The United States Department of State announced its decision to revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, citing his “reckless and incendiary actions” during a Palestine solidarity speech in New York City. In a statement issued on X, the department accused Petro of urging U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence.
The statement did not provide further details, but Petro’s comments were made at a significant demonstration supporting Palestine outside the United Nations headquarters. Videos circulated widely on social media show Petro joining thousands of demonstrators in Midtown Manhattan, coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the UN General Assembly.
In his remarks, Petro announced that Colombia would soon present a resolution at the UN aimed at establishing an “army for the salvation of the world.” He specified that this international force would prioritize the “liberation of Palestine,” advocating for it to be “larger” than the United States military and capable of enforcing international justice.
Petro directly appealed to American soldiers, stating: “I ask all the soldiers of the army of the US not to point their guns at humanity. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity.”
As of now, neither the Colombian president’s office nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded to requests for comments from Reuters concerning Washington’s decision to revoke Petro’s visa.
Petro’s confrontational comments outside the UN followed critical speeches earlier in the week at the General Assembly. He had condemned U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him “complicit in genocide” in Gaza and highlighting calls for “criminal proceedings” regarding American airstrikes on vessels the U.S. alleges were linked to drug trafficking.
Since the escalation of violence in Gaza, Petro has consistently denounced Israel’s military actions, labeling them as “genocide” and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause on social media. In one of his posts, he stated, “Free Palestine. If Gaza falls, humanity dies.”
Petro, who took office in 2022, has emerged as a leading voice among critics of Israel’s actions, eliciting sharp responses from Washington while gaining support from global solidarity movements allied with the Palestinian struggle.
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