‘I don’t care’: Colombia’s President Petro dismisses revocation of US visa

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has dismissed the decision of United States President Donald Trump’s administration to revoke his visa over his criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza, saying that Washington “no longer respects international law”.

“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 wrote on X on Saturday.
“Revoking it for denouncing genocide shows the US no longer respects international law,” he added.

The US Department of State announced in a social media post on Friday that it had stripped Petro of his US visa, citing his “reckless and incendiary actions” in relation to a speech he gave to protesters outside the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
The post did not provide specific details on Petro’s alleged offence, but footage circulated on social media earlier on Friday showed the Colombian leader joining thousands of pro-Palestine protesters outside the UN building in Midtown Manhattan.

Petro returned to Colombia on Saturday as intended, saying he found out about his visa status upon arrival.

In a post on social media, he said: ” International law grants me immunity to go to the UN and that there should be no reprisals for my free opinion, because I am a free person”.
“Mr. Trump has violated the founding principles of the UN,” he added, saying the Qatari capital, Doha, would be a better place for the UN’s headquarters.

“Time to go to a more democratic place,” Petro said.

‘Liberation of Palestine’
In one video clip posted on Friday from a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City, Petro can be heard saying that Colombia plans to present a resolution to the UN seeking to establish an “army for the salvation of the world”, whose first job would be the “liberation of Palestine”.

In an unofficial translation of his speech to protesters, Petro said that world nations will contribute soldiers to the army, which will “enforce the orders of international justice”, and that it must be “larger” than the US military.

“I ask all of the soldiers of the army of the US not to point their guns at humanity. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity,” the Colombian leader said.