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.
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”.
Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti reports from Bogota, Colombia.
Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe
Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/
Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/
Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile
#Colombia #GustavoPetro #PetroVisaRevoked #USColombiaTensions #FreePalestine #UNGA #USColombiaDiplomaticRow #InternationalLaw #GazaGenocide #IsraelGazaWar
