Gustavo Petro Faces Visa Revocation After NYC Protest

Bogotá, Colombia – Colombian President Gustavo Petro is facing a crisis with the United States after leading a protest in New York City in support of the Palestinian people. The U.S. State Department announced it will revoke Petro’s visa due to his actions that it described as reckless and incendiary.

In a statement on social media, the State Department mentioned that Petro urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence during the protest. This occurred as he was returning to Bogotá.

Earlier, Petro proposed a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly calling for the creation of an international armed force to support Palestine. This proposal comes after months of his condemnation of what he considers a genocide in Gaza, as well as calls for a boycott against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government.

Petro, standing alongside musician Roger Waters, used a megaphone to address the crowd, saying, “This brigade must be larger than that of the United States. I call on all U.S. soldiers not to point their rifles against humanity.” He continued, urging them to follow the command of humanity over political figures.

The U.S. government has been a crucial military and political ally for Netanyahu, allowing him to continue his military actions despite widespread international disapproval. Petro stressed the need for global support, stating, “All Colombian consulates and embassies have been ordered to seek votes for the ‘yes’ on the liberation of Palestine.”

He also announced plans to recruit volunteers with military experience upon his return to Colombia, saying, “If the president of the Republic needs to go into combat, I am not afraid. I’ve done it before!” This statement referred to his past involvement with the M-19 guerrilla group.

This development follows Colombia’s recent reaffirmation as a U.S. ally in the war against drugs, a decision reportedly linked to Petro’s political leadership. Despite ongoing military cooperation between the two nations, the U.S. has made it clear it does not support Petro’s leadership style.

The visa revocation is seen as a continuation of tensions that began when Petro previously criticized U.S. immigration policies. In a protest against inhumane treatment of Colombian migrants, he demanded the return of two planes carrying chained migrants, which led to threats of tariffs from the U.S. against Colombia.

Despite potential complications, Petro holds an Italian passport, allowing him entry to the U.S. However, the State Department can still deny him entry based on its stance against his actions.