Colombian President Gustavo Petro says US visa restrictions blocked New York meetings

President Gustavo Petro of Colombia said he was not informed of any limitation on his US visa, yet the United States barred him from meeting New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and from delivering a scheduled lecture in Boston. Petro described the action as "undemocratic" and a violation of the free‑speech protections normally afforded to heads of state attending the UN. He recalled that his visa had been revoked earlier after he urged US soldiers to disobey President Trump over the Gaza conflict, and that it was later restored following an agreement with the Trump administration in March. The dispute highlights continued tension between Bogotá and Washington over diplomatic and migration issues.