【By Observer Net, Zhang Jingjuan】"I have returned to Bogotá (the capital of Colombia). I no longer have a visa to the United States, but I don't care and I don't need a visa." On September 27 local time, Colombian President Petro responded on the social platform "X" with an uncompromising tone to the US decision to revoke his visa to the United States.

One day earlier, Petro was in the United States attending a demonstration in support of Palestine, and the US revoked his visa, citing that he had "urged US soldiers to disobey orders and incited violence."

This first left-wing president of Colombia stated on the 27th that what he needed was not a visa, but an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), because he is not only a Colombian citizen, but also an EU citizen.

"In fact, I believe myself to be a person who has freedom in the world. Humans should be free all over the world. We have the right to live on this planet. I am free, and every person on Earth should be free," wrote Petro.

He further pointed out that the US's act of revoking his visa for condemning genocide behavior shows that the US no longer abides by international law.

On the same day, Petro also accused the US's decision of violating diplomatic immunity and bluntly said, "The UN headquarters should not be located in New York."

He stated that as the president of Colombia, he has the right to express his opinion at the UN General Assembly. He emphasized that international law is the crystallization of human wisdom and should protect everyone. Genocide is a crime against humanity and must be pursued and severely punished.

"Trump violated the basic principles of the UN," Petro proposed moving the UN headquarters to a "more democratic place" and nominated Doha as a new candidate location.

According to Reuters, the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also made a statement at the same time, citing the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, stating that the United States, as the host country, has the obligation to ensure that delegations from all countries can smoothly enter the UN headquarters to attend meetings. Using the cancellation or revocation of visas as "a diplomatic weapon" to hinder national representatives from participating in UN activities violates the spirit of the UN Charter which guarantees free participation and expression for all parties. If the host country cannot maintain neutrality, it is necessary to seek a completely neutral new host country.

Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti also strongly supported the president on social media, speaking sharply, saying that the only person who should have their visa canceled is Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, not Petro's visa. The UN has unanimously recognized Netanyahu as unfit to be a world citizen.

On September 26, 2025, in New York, USA, Colombian President Gustavo Petro delivered a speech to pro-Palestine demonstrators on the streets of New York during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. IC photo

The spark for this incident was Petro's remarks at a rally on September 26. That day, he attended a demonstration in support of Palestine outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York, urging American soldiers to defy the orders of the US President Trump.

He gave a speech to the crowd, calling for the establishment of a global armed force whose primary mission is to liberate Palestine, and added, "The size of this force must exceed that of the US military."

Petro spoke in Spanish: "That is why I am here, in New York, calling on all soldiers of the US army not to point their guns at the people. (Please) defy Trump's orders! Obey the orders of humanity!"

This speech quickly angered Washington, and the US State Department immediately revoked his visa, citing that he had "urged US soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence."

On the morning of the 27th, Petro returned to Bogotá.

It is worth noting that Petro is not the first Colombian president to have his visa revoked by the US. In 1996, then-president Ernesto Samper had his US visa revoked due to being accused of being linked to the Cali drug cartel (which is suspected of providing funds for his presidential campaign).

This incident is another outbreak of the continued tension between Colombia and the US after Trump began his second term. In January, just a week after Trump began his second term, Petro prevented two military aircraft carrying deported immigrants from landing in Colombia, citing that "immigrants are not criminals and must be treated with the dignity they deserve." The US then announced a series of retaliatory measures, including imposing tariffs and implementing sanctions. Although Colombia later agreed to receive these individuals, bilateral relations became tense thereafter.

In July this year, after Petro accused US officials of planning a coup in Colombia, both countries recalled their ambassadors for emergency consultations.

Regarding the Israel-Palestine issue, Petro has always spoken out boldly. In 2024, he accused Israel of committing "genocide" in the Gaza Strip and announced the severance of diplomatic relations with it. In August of the same year, Colombia, as the largest coal supplier to Israel, suspended coal exports to Israel, demanding "until Israel stops the genocide."

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