Colombian president responds to US visa ban over 'Israel' criticism
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro dismissed the United States' revocation of his visa as politically motivated and irrelevant to his global mobility.
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Colombia's President Gustavo Petro gives a statement during a forum on democracy and multilateralism at La Moneda palace in Santiago, Chile, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has responded defiantly to the United States’ decision to revoke his visa, stating that he "doesn’t care" and criticizing Washington for what he called a violation of international law over his stance on the war in Gaza.
“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,” Petro said on social media on Saturday.
He added, “Revoking it for denouncing genocide shows the US no longer respects international law.”
Antes de irme de Nueva York, entré a un centro comercial, y las mujeres negras y blancas de los EEUU se ponían la mano en el corazón cuando me veían y me reconocían, hermoso pueblo libre, no lo atemorice con fusiles señor Trump, Bolívar dijo: maldito el soldado que levanté el…
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) September 27, 2025
In a separate post, the Colombian president denounced "Israel's" crimes in Gaza by stating, "Humanity is against genocide, and in Colombia, there was a genocide against the people when fascist conservatives ordered the liberals to be defeated by blood and fire, and the genocide continued afterward, allied with drug trafficking."
"Humanity demands an end to the crime against humanity in Gaza," Petro further stated. "Israelis have experienced an act of terror against their youth at a concert, and there were deaths that shouldn't have happened. But the response must not be a crime against humanity. We cannot allow babies to be murdered in Gaza."
'Missiles should not fall on civilian population of Gaza'
The Colombian president continued to condemn US foreign policy, attacking its tactics of war and bombing of innocent people. "Missiles should not fall on the civilian population of Gaza. Missiles should not fall on poor young people in the service of drug traffickers or on farmers trying to survive. Missiles should not fall on migrants who leave because they cannot bear poverty. Migrants are not criminals and do not deserve the death penalty; doing so is a crime against humanity."
"Trump, stay away from Hitler, there's still time," Petro said. "I prayed for the American soldiers who, on the front lines of the Battle of the Gothic Line near Florence, the Renaissance city in Italy, died for freedom. I prayed in their cemetery."
La Humanidad está en contra del genocidio y en Colombia, hubo un genocidio en contra del pueblo, cuando unos conservadores facistas ordenaron que a sangre y fuego, había que derrotar a los liberales, y continuó el genocidio después aliado al narcotráfico.
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) September 27, 2025
Nunca en ningún país…
Petro has been vocal in his condemnation of "Israel's" military operations in Gaza, aligning himself with international voices accusing "Israel" of committing genocide. A recent UN inquiry supported such claims, though "Israel" has denied all allegations, asserting its right to self-defense.
During the UN General Assembly last Thursday, Petro addressed pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside UN headquarters in New York. He called for the formation of a global armed force tasked with liberating Palestinians and urged US soldiers “not to point their guns at people. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity.”
Read more: US adds Colombia to drug list, drawing Petro’s rebuke
In response to the visa revocation, Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement condemning the move as an abuse of diplomatic tools. The ministry stated that using visa restrictions as retaliation undermines the spirit of the United Nations, which guarantees member states' independence and protects freedom of expression.
“The UN should find a completely neutral host country…that would allow the organization itself to issue authorization to enter the territory of that new host state,” the ministry said.
History of US visa revocations in Colombia
Gustavo Petro is not the first Colombian president to face US visa restrictions. In 1996, then-president Ernesto Samper had his visa canceled amid allegations that his presidential campaign received funding from the Cali drug cartel.
The US State Department posted on social media that Petro’s visa was revoked “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.
Ties between Colombia and the United States have become increasingly strained since Donald Trump returned to office. Earlier in 2025, Petro suspended deportation flights from the US, prompting threats of tariffs and sanctions before both sides reached a compromise.
In July, both countries recalled their ambassadors after Petro accused US officials of plotting a coup, an accusation Washington rejected as baseless.
Petro also severed diplomatic ties with "Israel" in 2024 and banned Colombian coal exports to the entity.
