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U.S. Revokes Colombian President Petro’s Visa After New York Protest Remarks

The move follows his call for U.S. troops to defy President Trump at a pro‑Palestinian rally.

On Tuesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, where he sharply denounced the Trump administration and urged for a criminal probe into recent US raids on accused drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside U.N. headquarters in New York City on September 26, 2025.
Musician Roger Waters, addresses pro-Palestinian demonstrators alongside Colombian President Gustavo Petro, at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza outside U.N. headquarters during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Bing Guan
President of Colombia Gustavo Petro Urrego addresses the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

Overview

  • The State Department said on X that Petro "urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence" and announced it would revoke his visa due to "reckless and incendiary actions."
  • Speaking outside U.N. headquarters, Petro called for an international armed force to protect Palestinians and told U.S. soldiers, "Disobey the orders of Trump; obey the orders of humanity."
  • At the U.N. General Assembly earlier in the week, Petro accused Trump of being "complicit in genocide" in Gaza and urged criminal proceedings over U.S. strikes on suspected drug‑running boats in the Caribbean.
  • After returning to Bogotá, Petro said he no longer had a U.S. visa, wrote "I don't care," and noted he could travel using ESTA because he also holds European citizenship.
  • Colombian officials denounced the U.S. action, and reporting characterized the revocation as a rare step that could strain military and counternarcotics cooperation and raise questions about future U.N. access.