According to a report by Reuters, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has sharply criticized Washington after the United States revoked his visa, saying the move violated international law and was retaliation for his outspoken stance against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The U.S. government announced the revocation on Friday, a day after Petro appeared at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York. During the rally, he urged American soldiers to resist carrying out orders from President Donald Trump, remarks that drew immediate backlash from U.S. officials.
Petro responded defiantly, insisting the decision would not affect him personally or politically. “I no longer have a visa to travel to the United States. I don’t care. I don’t need a visa… because I’m not only a Colombian citizen but a European citizen, and I truly consider myself a free person in the world,” he wrote on social media.
He further accused Washington of undermining international norms, saying: “Revoking it for denouncing genocide shows the U.S. no longer respects international law.”
Israel, facing growing international criticism over the scale of destruction and civilian deaths in Gaza, has consistently rejected accusations of genocide, maintaining that its operations are defensive measures aimed at neutralizing Hamas and other militant factions.
Petro’s participation in the protest underscored his growing role as one of the most vocal leaders in Latin America condemning Israel’s actions. Addressing demonstrators gathered outside U.N. headquarters in Manhattan, he escalated his rhetoric, proposing the creation of a multinational force with the specific mission of securing Palestinian freedom. “This force has to be bigger than that of the United States,” he declared to the crowd.
The fallout between Bogotá and Washington highlights widening political rifts over the war in Gaza, particularly as some governments in the Global South push for stronger accountability measures against Israel. For Petro, the U.S. visa revocation appears to have become an opportunity to amplify his criticism of American foreign policy while rallying support among those demanding greater international intervention. See, More, Here>>>
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