By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
VISA ACCESS for Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been revoked by the United States (U.S.) following remarks he made at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York, where he urged American soldiers to defy orders issued by President Donald Trump.
The U.S. State Department announced the decision late Friday, describing the Colombian leader’s comments as “reckless and incendiary.”
The announcement came as Petro was returning to Bogotá after attending the United Nations General Assembly.
According to Colombian media, the visa cancellation was communicated after he had already departed U.S. territory.
The development marks one of the most serious diplomatic confrontations between Washington and Bogotá in recent years, and it comes at a time when relations between both governments had already been strained.
Footage circulated on social media on Friday showed Petro addressing demonstrators outside U.N. headquarters in Midtown Manhattan through a megaphone.
Speaking in Spanish, the Colombian leader called for the creation of what he termed a “world salvation army” tasked initially with the liberation of Palestine.
“That is why, from here in New York, I ask all soldiers in the United States Army not to point their rifles at humanity,” Petro told the crowd. “Disobey Trump’s order! Obey the order of humanity!”
He went on to call for young men and women from working-class families in Israel and the United States to turn their weapons “not toward humanity, but toward tyrants and fascists.”
The State Department swiftly condemned the remarks. In a post on X, it wrote: “Earlier today, Colombian President Gustavo Petro stood on a New York City 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 rally coincided with a major address to the U.N. General Assembly by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
His speech denounced Western nations for recognising Palestinian statehood and insisted Israel must be allowed to “finish the job” in Gaza.
As Netanyahu spoke inside the U.N., protesters outside rallied in support of Palestinians, with Petro joining demonstrators alongside prominent activists.
Petro also shared videos of his appearance on social media, amplifying his statements. “Free Palestine. If Gaza falls, humanity dies,” he wrote in one post.
The president repeated calls for an international armed coalition to enforce global justice and place the liberation of Palestine at its core.
Colombia’s Interior Minister, Armando Benedetti, issued a response online, saying that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visa should have been cancelled rather than Petro’s.
“But since the empire protects him, it’s taking it out on the only president who was capable enough to tell him the truth to his face,” Benedetti wrote.
Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, has become one of the strongest Latin American critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
In 2024, he severed diplomatic ties with Israel, labelling its actions against Palestinians as genocidal.
He later reimposed a ban on coal exports to Israel, saying Colombia “will not be complicit” in what he called “genocide.”
His government has repeatedly denounced attacks on Palestinian civilians, with Petro stating that scenes of aid seekers killed in Gaza evoked memories of the Holocaust.
At the United Nations earlier in the week, Petro directed criticism at the Trump administration’s foreign policy.
He accused Washington of carrying out airstrikes on boats in the Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, but claimed the operations were instead designed to maintain control over Latin America through violence.
The Colombian leader argued that some of those killed in the strikes may have been Colombian nationals and accused U.S. officials of working in alliance with drug cartels. Speaking to the BBC, he likened the strikes to “acts of tyranny.”
The United States maintains the strikes are part of anti-narcotics operations targeting Venezuelan waters, accusing Venezuela’s government of supporting drug trafficking networks.
Washington has consistently denied Petro’s claims and defended the legitimacy of its actions.
Petro’s comments on Trump at the U.N. were especially direct. He said the U.S. president was “complicit in genocide” in Gaza and called for criminal proceedings against the U.S. leader.
These remarks added further pressure to already fragile U.S.–Colombia relations, which have been deteriorating since the start of Trump’s current term in office.
Relations worsened shortly after Trump returned to power in January.
At that time, Petro initially refused to accept military flights carrying deportees under Trump’s immigration crackdown, claiming Colombians were being treated like criminals.
Bogotá reversed the stance only after threats of tariffs and the suspension of U.S. visa appointments for Colombian citizens.
Trump’s administration this month listed Colombia among countries Washington claims have failed to meet counter-narcotics commitments, criticising Petro’s policies on coca cultivation.
Petro, who came to office in 2022, initially pursued agreements with armed groups and alternative livelihoods for farmers to move away from coca production.
In 2023, he shifted strategy, pledging extensive social and military intervention in coca-growing areas.
Despite these efforts, U.S. officials have repeatedly said Colombia has not achieved progress in combating cocaine production.
The visa revocation against Petro comes amid wider disputes over Palestinian representation at the United Nations.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration denied visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and around 80 Palestinian officials, preventing them from travelling to New York for the General Assembly.
The Palestinian leadership said the move violated the 1947 U.N. Headquarters Agreement, which obliges the United States to permit entry for foreign representatives to attend the U.N. Washington maintained it acted within its rights, citing security and foreign policy considerations.
Petro’s participation in Friday’s protest further underscored his opposition to U.S. and Israeli policies.
In his rally speech, he said Colombia would present a resolution at the U.N. to establish a “World Salvation Army” that would be larger than the U.S. military and charged with enforcing international justice.
He suggested this army would be a multinational force drawing contributions from nations worldwide.
Reuters reported that Petro’s office and Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the U.S. visa decision.
The revocation has raised questions in Bogotá about the impact on bilateral ties and Colombia’s diplomatic standing.
Colombian media noted that Petro’s visit to New York was primarily for the U.N. General Assembly, but his participation in the pro-Palestinian protest overshadowed his earlier multilateral engagements.
The State Department’s decision to target a sitting head of state with visa cancellation has highlighted the level of tension between both governments.
The U.S. action also drew attention against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza.
According to Gaza health authorities, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its offensive after the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.
Israel has rejected accusations of genocide, insisting its campaign is a matter of self-defence.
The unfolding developments illustrate the depth of disagreement over the Gaza conflict on the global stage.
While Israel has strongly opposed moves by countries such as France, Britain, Australia, and Canada to recognise Palestinian statehood, Petro has positioned himself as an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights.
His rhetoric, however, has now triggered direct consequences for his ability to travel to the United States.
The State Department reiterated its position that Petro’s remarks amounted to incitement, with officials stressing that urging U.S. soldiers to disobey their commander-in-chief undermined constitutional authority and could not be tolerated.
As of Friday night, it remained unclear whether additional diplomatic measures would be taken by Washington against Colombia.
