Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized the United States on Saturday for revoking his visa, asserting that this action contravenes international law.
The US implemented this decision following Petro’s participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Friday, during which he urged American soldiers to disobey President Trump’s directives regarding the conflict in Gaza.
“I no longer possess a visa to enter the United States. I am indifferent. I do not require a visa … as I am not only a Colombian citizen but also a European citizen, and I genuinely regard myself as a free individual in the world,” Petro stated on X.
“The revocation for denouncing genocide indicates that the US no longer adheres to international law,” he continued.
While a United Nations investigation has asserted that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide, Israel vehemently rejects this claim, maintaining that its operations are solely for self-defense.
During his speech at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York, Petro proposed the establishment of a global military force aimed at liberating Palestinians. The most contentious moment occurred when he explicitly instructed US soldiers “not to aim their weapons at individuals. Disobey Trump’s orders. Follow the commands of humanity.”
In a statement on X, the State Department announced the revocation of Petro’s visa due to his “reckless and incendiary actions.”
The Colombian Foreign Affairs Ministry remarked that revoking a visa as a form of diplomatic retribution contradicts UN principles. They specifically argued that such an action undermines freedom of expression and the assurance of independence granted to member states while engaging in UN activities.
“The UN should identify a completely neutral host nation … that would permit the organization itself to grant authorization for entry into the territory of that new host state,” the ministry stated.
Petro joins the ranks of presidents who are at odds with Washington.
He is not the first Colombian leader to experience a cancellation of a US visa; in 1996, the US similarly revoked the visa of President Ernesto Samper due to a political financing scandal linked to the Cali drug cartel.
At present, the bilateral relationship has become increasingly strained since Donald Trump returned to office. Earlier this year, this tension was evident when Petro halted deportation flights from the US, a decision that initially provoked threats of economic retaliation from Washington until a compromise was reached.
The diplomatic divide widened considerably in July, leading to the reciprocal withdrawal of ambassadors after Petro made an unfounded allegation that US officials were involved in a coup conspiracy.
In addition, Petro has taken a firm stance against Israel, severing diplomatic ties in 2024 and prohibiting the export of coal from Colombia to that nation.
