Petro denounces U.S. restrictions preventing meeting with New York mayor

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the United States government of restricting his movement and hindering his diplomatic duties by preventing a planned meeting with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The incident has further strained relations between the two nations.

Petro, who was in New York for United Nations events, stated that U.S. officials informed his delegation that meeting with Mamdani would violate travel restrictions placed upon him. These measures are reportedly part of sanctions approved by Washington last year, which included the revocation of his standard visa, leaving him with only diplomatic entry authorization for official international body appearances.

"I consider it undemocratic that my freedom to speak with the mayor of New York was restricted... and my freedom of thought by not allowing me to give a conference to which I was invited in Boston," Petro declared on social media. He emphasized that he had not been informed of any visa restrictions prior to attending other events in the U.S., including a funeral in Chicago.

The situation highlights ongoing diplomatic friction between Petro's administration and the U.S. government, particularly concerning differing political stances and U.S. interference in Colombian domestic politics. Mayor Mamdani, a progressive Democrat, has often opposed White House policies, adding another layer to the diplomatic sensitivity of the cancelled meeting.