The United States announced on Friday that it would revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro after he participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York City, where he urged American soldiers to disobey orders from President Donald Trump.
Petro took to social media to express his reaction, stating, “I no longer have a travel visa to the United States. It doesn’t matter to me. I don’t need it… Because I am not only a Colombian citizen, but also a European citizen, and I truly consider myself a free person in this world.”
He further commented on the situation via a post on X, arguing that the visa cancellation due to his condemnation of genocide shows that Washington no longer respects international law.
During his speech to supporters at the United Nations in Manhattan, Petro called for the establishment of an international armed force dedicated to liberating Palestinians, claiming that this force should be stronger than that of the United States.
This is not the first time a Colombian leader has faced visa cancellation. In 1996, then-President Ernesto Samper had his visa revoked amid a political scandal involving allegations that the Cali drug cartel funded his presidential campaign.
Relations between Bogotá and Washington have soured since Trump’s return to office. Earlier this year, Petro declined the repatriation of migrants from the U.S., which led to threats of tariffs and sanctions, but the two nations later reached an agreement.
In July, both countries recalled their ambassadors after Petro accused American officials of plotting a coup—a claim that Washington dismissed as completely unfounded.
In 2024, Petro severed diplomatic relations with Israel and imposed a ban on coal exports to the country.