Colombian President Gustavo Petro Faces Visa Revocation Over Remarks During NYC Protest

The U.S. State Department announced plans to revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro following his provocative call for U.S. troops to disobey orders during a protest in New York City. Petro, who was attending the United Nations General Assembly, urged soldiers “not to point their guns at people” and encouraged them to “disobey the orders of Trump,” advocating for “obedience to humanity.”

Petro’s speech was delivered outside the UN headquarters, amid a rally with anti-Israel activists and musician Roger Waters. Petro also expressed support for Palestine, posting a video with Waters and calling for “Free Palestine.” He warned that “if Gaza falls, humanity dies.”

Earlier this year, Petro had a tense confrontation with former President Donald Trump over migrant deportations, threatening U.S. sanctions and tariffs on Colombia for refusing to accept deported nationals. Despite threats, Petro reversed his stance, offering the U.S. use of his presidential plane to facilitate migrant transfers back to Colombia.

The protests drew widespread attention, partly due to Waters’s controversial statements. Waters, a co-founder of Pink Floyd, is known for his vocal criticism of Israel and support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement. He has made headlines for remarks comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, including a notorious incident where he dressed as a Nazi officer during a Berlin performance. The event featured a display referencing Holocaust victims and drew sharp criticism, including from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Petro, a former guerrilla, has often used his platform to advocate for international causes and has spoken out against U.S. policies he views as harmful. The revocation of his visa underscores escalating tensions over his political statements and activism.