US revokes Colombian president Petro's visa after New York remarks urging disobedience
State Department says Petro's remarks outside the United Nations headquarters were reckless and incendiary, prompting visa withdrawal during his UN General Assembly visit.
The United States on Friday revoked the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro after he urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence during remarks near the United Nations in New York. Petro is in the city to participate in the United Nations General Assembly.
The State Department, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), cited Petro's remarks as reckless and incendiary. It wrote: "Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence. We will revoke Petro's visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions." The department noted Petro's words outside the UN headquarters, including his call to soldiers not to point their guns at people and to "Disobey the orders of (President Donald) Trump. Obey the orders of humanity!" Petro's office and Colombia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Petro's remarks formed part of a broader UNGA outreach in which he criticized U.S. policy toward Gaza and the Trump administration. In a speech to the global gathering on Tuesday, he described U.S. President Donald Trump as complicit in genocide in Gaza and called for criminal proceedings over U.S. missile strikes on ships in Caribbean waters suspected of involvement in drug trafficking. His comments reflected a pattern of outspoken criticism of Israel's war in Gaza that has characterized his presidency since taking office in 2022.
Separately, Petro has used social media to amplify his stance. A Friday post on X cited the phrase "Free Palestine. If Gaza falls, humanity dies" and showed reposted clips from a gathering of pro-Palestinian protesters and remarks by former Pink Floyd guitarist Roger Waters in New York. The post underscored the Colombian leader's alignment with international voices pressing for humanitarian relief and political accountability in the Middle East.
Colombia's government did not respond to requests for comment, and Petro's office had not issued a formal statement by late Friday. Officials familiar with the matter described the visa decision as a rare, high-profile action tied to what Washington said were Petro's "reckless and incendiary" public comments that undermine the safety protocols typically observed when foreign leaders visit U.S. soil.
The visa revocation comes at a moment of heightened scrutiny of Petro's foreign policy stance and how it aligns with U.S. security interests. While Petro has sought to position Colombia as a bridge-builder in regional diplomacy and humanitarian advocacy, Washington has repeatedly stressed the need for careful rhetoric and adherence to international norms in public statements by foreign leaders.
Analysts say the move could complicate Petro's UN schedule as he presses his diplomatic agenda in New York and meets with other world leaders on a crowded plenary calendar. It also signals the United States' willingness to take visa actions against sitting heads of state when comments are deemed to threaten U.S. public safety or incite violence.
This is a developing story, and further official statements or clarifications are expected as more details emerge about the decision and its implications for U.S.-Colombia relations and Petro's diplomatic itinerary.