Colombia’s President Congratulates New York Mayor

Colombia’s far-left president, Gustavo Petro, recently extended his congratulations to Zoran Mandani on his election as mayor of New York City. In a recent post, he shared a photo from their meeting during the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Petro, whose U.S. visa was revoked after he urged the U.S. military to disregard orders from then-President Donald Trump, expressed hope that he might return to New York “someday.”

As Colombia’s first leftist president, Petro, who previously belonged to the M19 Marxist guerrilla group, has adopted an increasingly oppositional stance toward the U.S. In recent months, he’s publicly accused Trump of various misconducts, including labeling him as responsible for the deaths of drug traffickers and calling for his arrest.

On social media, he celebrated Mandani’s electoral success with a series of brief posts, reflecting on their discussions and, in one instance, stating that “The people of New York deserve the Statue of Liberty.” His comments seem to stem from a somewhat odd suggestion to relocate the statue from New York to Colombia, voicing skepticism about America’s commitment to freedom.

Petro’s posts included a cheerful note saying, “So nice, New York, I’ll see you again someday,” accompanied by a clip of his interaction with Mandani, which had been shared earlier by the Colombian President’s Office.

In October, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Petro, accusing him of engaging in activities that significantly contribute to the international drug trade. Reports indicate that cocaine production in Colombia has surged during his presidency.

Petro supports the legalization of cocaine, controversially claiming it’s “less harmful than sugar.” However, he faces criticism from a former aide alleged to have struggled with drug addiction issues.

In addition to Petro, U.S. sanctions also targeted his son, Nicolás Petro Burgos, amid inquiries into his alleged role in funneling drug trafficker money for his father’s campaign. Several other Colombian officials were flagged, including the First Lady and the Interior Minister.

Prior to the sanctions, Petro’s U.S. visa was revoked after he called on the military to defy Trump at a pro-Palestinian rally. The Colombian government criticized this decision, characterizing it as a violation of Petro’s free speech rights.

In a passionate address at the U.N. General Assembly, Petro accused Trump of complicity in genocide and criticized U.S. military operations against drug trafficking. Following his remarks, he proceeded to call for Trump’s arrest.

Petro has maintained this critical stance toward Trump, recently insisting that his presidency is an “obstacle to democracy.” He emphasized the need for a change in U.S. leadership, suggesting various means, even mentioning a more direct approach of “getting rid of Trump.”

Despite facing sanctions and having his visa revoked, Petro revealed plans to return to New York for the U.N. session in January, expressing intentions to use his upcoming role in the U.N. Security Council to amplify Palestinian voices.