Petro’s Upcoming Visit to New York and Recent Controversies

Gustavo Petro, the outgoing Marxist president of Colombia, is set to arrive in New York on Tuesday. He’ll lead a debate at the UN Security Council during a busy two-day schedule at the United Nations.

According to Colombian state media, Petro is also expected to meet with socialist mayor Zoran Mamdani of New York City this week.

This is Petro’s second visit to the U.S. in 2026, following a meeting with President Trump at the White House in February. Interestingly, before that meeting, he had expressed significant animosity toward Trump for several months. Now, his trip to New York, which will conclude on June 11, follows a prior visit in September 2025, where he made headlines for his controversial remarks and actions against Trump. Notably, he participated in a “pro-Palestinian” event and urged the U.S. military to disregard Trump’s authority. His U.S. visa was revoked by the State Department after allowing him back for talks with Trump in February.

Colombia holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in June 2026. On Wednesday, Petro is expected to preside over a public debate titled “Advancing a Political Solution in the Middle East: Mediation and Dialogue for Durable Peace,” as part of the Security Council’s agenda focused on maintaining international peace and security.

During his stay in New York, Petro is anticipated to attend various UN events. Reports suggest he will meet with Mamdani on June 12 at the Dignity of Democracy summit to discuss matters like social inequality and strengthening democratic values.

However, it remains unclear if the meeting with Mamdani will actually occur, as it is said to be scheduled for June 12, just a day after Petro’s planned return to Colombia. Petro has congratulated Mamdani in the past for his success in the 2025 mayoral election.

Petro’s upcoming visit comes amidst renewed controversy, having recently sparked outrage with a social media post that included the German Nazi salute “Heil Hitler.” He made this post in reaction to an opinion piece by journalist Felipe Zuleta Gera, who appears to back conservative presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriela.

As his four-year term nears its end—set to conclude on August 7, 2026—Petro will be succeeded by either De la Espriela or his own protégé, far-left senator Iván Cepeda, following the presidential runoff on June 21. Under Colombian law, Petro cannot seek re-election.

The reaction to his Nazi salute comment was swift and widespread. The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded by stating that Petro has lost his moral compass, calling his words a significant stain on Colombia’s heritage. Condemnations also came from U.S. Senator Rick Scott and Representative Carlos Jimenez.

Moreover, Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon expressed his hope that Petro would reconsider and apologize, especially with his leadership role in the UN debate upcoming.

Danon stated, “Using Nazi slogans is a shameful and irreversible low.” However, Petro has yet to issue an apology. Instead, he doubled down on his comments, claiming that the original post illustrates a shift towards fascism, without clarifying his points further.

A collective of 24 Latin American parliamentarians recently condemned Petro’s use of the Nazi salute, emphasizing that such references should not be used in political discourse. They highlighted the importance of respectful public debate, especially when it involves the weighty and sensitive nature of words.