The U.S. State Department canceled President Gustavo Petro’s visa last year following his presence at a pro-Palestinian rally in Manhattan. This restriction affected his planned attendance at an event organized by Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York.
The meeting, which was set for this week, was canceled due to diplomatic concerns. U.S. diplomats warned Colombia’s government that the meeting might breach the conditions under which President Petro was allowed into the United States. The information was confirmed by both Colombian and American officials.
The only travel exception for Mr. Petro was to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday. Any engagements outside that agenda were prohibited, according to officials. Colombian authorities agreed to cancel the planned meeting after receiving a notification from the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá.
Typically, foreign heads of state have visas permitting them to enter the United States freely. However, the U.S. State Department revoked Mr. Petro’s visa after he attended the Manhattan rally in September and criticized U.S. support for Israel in Gaza. He also urged American soldiers to defy orders from the U.S. President.
This visa cancellation happened amidst ongoing tensions between Mr. Petro, a known leftist, and the Trump administration. The New York City Mayor’s Office did not issue an immediate comment regarding the situation.
The State Department emphasized, “A visa is a privilege, not a right. Any individual’s U.S. visa can be revoked if they encourage U.S. soldiers to disregard the commands of the duly elected president.” Despite efforts by President Trump to establish mutual understanding, Mr. Petro maintained his controversial stance.
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