Colombian President Petro accuses the US of violating international law when his visa was revoked due to his stance on Gaza
Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, says that Washington’s decision to revoke his visa was a punishment for his condemnation of the massacre in Gaza.
After Washington withdrew his visa due to his pro-Palestinian views and harsh condemnation of Israel’s conflict in Gaza, Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused the US of breaking international law.
Petro’s visa was revoked, the US State Department stated on Friday, citing his “reckless and incendiary actions.” The ruling came after Petro encouraged American soldiers to “obey the orders of humanity” and defy President Donald Trump’s directives during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York.
“My visa to enter the United States has expired. I don’t give a damn. Since I am both a Colombian and a European citizen, I don’t require a visa. I genuinely believe that I am a free person in the world,” Petro posted on social media. “Removing it for condemning genocide demonstrates that the United States no longer respects international law,” he continued.
The decision was condemned by Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which cautioned that weaponizing visas goes against the UN’s impartiality and freedom of speech norms. It proposed moving UN headquarters to a “completely neutral host country” where the organization itself would grant permission for access.
Israel maintains that its military actions in Gaza are self-defense and has denied charges of genocide. The war has killed 65,000 people, according to Gaza’s officials, and uprooted all of the enclave’s residents, drawing international criticism.
Since Trump’s return to office, Bogota and Washington’s relations have been worse. Before an agreement was struck, Petro threatened to impose tariffs after blocking US deportation flights earlier this year. Both countries recalled their ambassadors in July after Petro made unfounded accusations against US officials that they were planning a coup.
Along with reducing coal exports and removing Colombia’s embassy in Tel Aviv in 2024, Petro has also severing ties with Israel. Such actions have been taken against other Colombian leaders before; in 1996, President Ernesto Samper’s visa was revoked due to claims that he had received cartel funding during his campaign.
