U.S. Revokes Visa of Colombian President Following Controversial Protest Remarks
The United States has announced its decision to revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro after he encouraged U.S. soldiers to “disobey” orders during a pro-Palestinian protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, reports 24brussels.
In a statement released on social media, the State Department condemned Petro’s “reckless and incendiary actions,” alleging that he incited U.S. military personnel to disregard orders and promote violence. Specific details regarding the visa revocation were not revealed.
Footage shared online captured Petro addressing a crowd of thousands while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered remarks to the General Assembly. In his speech, Petro proposed that his administration would introduce a UN resolution to create an “army for the salvation of the world,” which he asserted should prioritize the “liberation of Palestine.”
The US Department of State has said it will revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, citing his “reckless and incendiary actions” in relation to a speech he gave to protesters outside the UN headquarters in New York City https://t.co/xfPjA884qc pic.twitter.com/rzZpwz1KLe
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) September 27, 2025
During his address, Petro implored U.S. military personnel, stating, “I ask all of the soldiers of the army of the U.S. not to point their guns at humanity. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity.”
This demonstration coincided with Netanyahu’s call for global leaders to permit Israel to “finish the job” in Gaza, while criticizing nations that have recognized Palestinian statehood.
Since taking office in 2022, Petro has been vocal against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, referring to them as “genocide.” In 2024, he cut diplomatic ties with Israel and made parallels between its actions and the Holocaust. Earlier in July, Petro reinstated a ban on coal exports to Israel, asserting that Colombia would “not be complicit” in the ongoing conflict.
On social media, Petro reiterated his stance on the New York protests with messages declaring, “Free Palestine. If Gaza falls, humanity dies.” In the preceding week, at the General Assembly, he accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of complicity in genocide and urged for “criminal proceedings” against the U.S. for its military interventions in the Caribbean.
Neither Petro’s office nor Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on the U.S. government’s decision to revoke the visa.