U.S. Revokes Colombian President’s Visa: A Bold Stand Against Controversial Pro-Palestinian Comments!
Colombian President Gustavo Petro faced backlash from the United States following his participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York City on Friday, where he called for disobedience among U.S. military personnel regarding orders from President Donald Trump. In a statement via X, the State Department indicated plans to revoke Petro’s visa, labeling his actions as “reckless and incendiary.”
During the protest outside the United Nations headquarters, Petro addressed the crowd, advocating for the formation of a global armed force to prioritize the liberation of Palestinians, asserting that this entity should surpass the military strength of the United States. “From here, from New York, I ask all the soldiers of the army of the United States not to point their guns at people. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity,” he declared in Spanish.
As of now, it remains unclear whether Petro is still in New York. His office and the Colombian foreign ministry have not responded to inquiries for comment. The demonstration comes amid heightened tensions regarding the Gaza conflict, which has seen ongoing clashes at the U.N. and criticism aimed at Western nations recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Petro, who is Colombia’s first leftist president and a prominent critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, condemned Trump in his recent U.N. General Assembly speech. He claimed that the U.S. leader is “complicit in genocide” in Gaza and called for “criminal proceedings” concerning U.S. missile strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Caribbean waters.
In an assembly session on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Western recognition of Palestinian statehood, stating it sends a dangerous message that “murdering Jews pays off.” This commentary follows Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which was initiated after a deadly attack orchestrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023. This assault resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, with 251 taken hostage. Since then, health authorities in Gaza report that more than 65,000 Palestinians have died due to military retaliation, leading many rights experts to assert that these actions constitute genocide-a claim vehemently denied by Israel, which cites self-defense.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, facing his own visa challenges from the Trump administration, addressed the U.N. via video on Thursday. His office criticized the visa refusal as a violation of the 1947 U.N. headquarters agreement, which typically assures access for foreign diplomats to the U.N. However, the U.S. maintains it can deny visas for reasons related to security, extremism, and foreign policy.
Relations between the United States and Colombia were already strained as Trump’s administration imposed additional scrutiny on Colombian anti-narcotics efforts. After Petro previously declined to accept military flights carrying deportees amid Trump’s immigration crackdown, he managed to find a resolution due to escalating tariff threats and visa appointment cancellations.
In a recent move, Trump officially designated Colombia as a country that has not upheld its commitments in counter-narcotics, criticizing the nation’s political leadership. Since taking office in 2022, Petro had aimed for agreements with armed groups but shifted last year to a more militaristic strategy focused on combating coca cultivation, although this approach has struggled to achieve significant success.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/27/us-to-revoke-colombian-presidents-visa-over-comments-at-pro-palestinian-gathering.html
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Publish Date: 2025-09-27 15:37:00
