The United States said on Friday that it will revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro after he made pro-Palestinian remarks during a demonstration in New York City.
The series of remarks included urging US soldiers to disobey orders and accusing US President Donald Trump of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza.
The comments were made while Petro was in New York for the United Nations general assembly. Addressing a crowd outside the UN headquarters, he said, “I ask all the soldiers of the army of the United States not to point their guns at people. Disobey the orders of (President Donald) Trump. Obey the orders of humanity!” quoted news agency Reuters.
The US state department, reacting sharply to his remarks, posted on X,
“Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC 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.”
At the pro-Palestinian demonstration in Times Square, Petro also called for a military response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, saying, “we have to answer with a war … and we have to answer with weapons. That’s why we need to create an army, bigger than the army of Israel and that of the USA. I do not have anything against you people or the Israeli people, they are my friends.”
Petro’s social media accounts later amplified the remarks. On Friday, he reposted videos of his appearances at the protests and shared a message that read, “Free Palestine. If Gaza falls, humanity dies.”
In his official address to the UN General Assembly earlier in the week, Petro took direct aim at the US, accusing Trump of complicity in war crimes in Gaza and calling for “criminal proceedings” over American missile strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean.
The remarks - particularly the call for US military personnel to defy orders - triggered an immediate diplomatic response from Washington. While Petro said his comments were directed at governments and not citizens, US officials viewed the language as unacceptable.
Tensions between Colombia and the US have been growing in recent months. Petro, a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, has already suspended Colombian coal exports to Israel.
The series of remarks included urging US soldiers to disobey orders and accusing US President Donald Trump of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza.
The comments were made while Petro was in New York for the United Nations general assembly. Addressing a crowd outside the UN headquarters, he said, “I ask all the soldiers of the army of the United States not to point their guns at people. Disobey the orders of (President Donald) Trump. Obey the orders of humanity!” quoted news agency Reuters.
The US state department, reacting sharply to his remarks, posted on X,
“Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC 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.”
Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence.
— Department of State (@StateDept) September 27, 2025
We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.
At the pro-Palestinian demonstration in Times Square, Petro also called for a military response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, saying, “we have to answer with a war … and we have to answer with weapons. That’s why we need to create an army, bigger than the army of Israel and that of the USA. I do not have anything against you people or the Israeli people, they are my friends.”
“We need to create an army bigger than Israel’s and we have to respond with a war”
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) September 26, 2025
Colombian President Gustavo Petro calls for military intervention during a demonstration against Gaza genocide in New York City. pic.twitter.com/12L2ZIeTZM
Petro’s social media accounts later amplified the remarks. On Friday, he reposted videos of his appearances at the protests and shared a message that read, “Free Palestine. If Gaza falls, humanity dies.”
In his official address to the UN General Assembly earlier in the week, Petro took direct aim at the US, accusing Trump of complicity in war crimes in Gaza and calling for “criminal proceedings” over American missile strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean.
The remarks - particularly the call for US military personnel to defy orders - triggered an immediate diplomatic response from Washington. While Petro said his comments were directed at governments and not citizens, US officials viewed the language as unacceptable.
Tensions between Colombia and the US have been growing in recent months. Petro, a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, has already suspended Colombian coal exports to Israel.
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