Petro Says US Fails to Uphold International Law After Visa Suspension

Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated on Saturday (27) that the United States government no longer upholds international law after having his visa suspended. The United States announced the cancellation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa on Friday (26) after he publicly called for soldiers to disobey President Donald Trump, further straining relations between Washington and Bogotá. Authorities claim that the Colombian ‘urged American soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence.’ Petro, who has clashed with the Trump administration on migration and drug trafficking issues, reiterated his call for an armed force to ‘liberate Palestine,’ addressing a group of pro-Palestine supporters outside the United Nations headquarters on Friday (26).
‘Global strength must surpass that of the United States. That is why, from here, in New York, I urge all US army soldiers not to point their rifles at humanity,’ Petro said in a video posted on social media. ‘Disobey Trump’s orders. Obey humanity’s orders,’ he added. Following this, the US Department of State stated in a post on X: ‘Earlier today, Colombian President Gustavo Petro stood in a street in New York and called on American soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence. We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and inflammatory actions.’ In response, Petro said that the US decision ‘breaks all norms of immunity on which the United Nations and its General Assembly are based.’
‘The fact that the Palestinian Authority was not allowed entry and my visa was revoked for asking the US and Israeli armies not to support a genocide, which is a crime against all humanity, demonstrates that the US government no longer upholds international law,’ he posted on X. Petro was in New York to speak at the United Nations General Assembly, where he also directly criticized Trump, calling him a ‘genocide accomplice’ in Gaza, where Israel, a US ally, recently intensified an offensive in the Gaza City. Last week, an independent United Nations inquiry concluded for the first time that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, an accusation vehemently denied by the Israeli government. CNN contacted the US Department of State for further information.
Colombian station Radio Caracol reported that Petro had already boarded a flight to leave the US when the Department of State announced it would revoke his visa. During his UN speech, Petro also called for ‘criminal proceedings’ for the deadly US attacks against alleged drug traffickers in international waters in South America. The Colombian president had a tumultuous relationship with the White House this year. Just over a week into Trump’s second term, Petro blocked the landing of two American military flights with deported immigrants, accusing the US of treating Colombian immigrants as criminals. Subsequently, Colombia agreed to accept the deportees and sent its own planes to assist in their return. The Andean country was once Washington’s most reliable ally in South America on security and national defense issues.