Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrived in New York this week for a series of United Nations events, but his visit is already attracting attention for reasons extending far beyond diplomacy.
Petro, who currently serves as president of Colombia and holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council for June 2026, is scheduled to preside over a Security Council debate titled “Advancing Political Solutions in the Middle East: Mediation and Dialogue for Lasting Peace.” The event is part of the council’s broader agenda focused on international peace and security.
According to Colombian media reports, Petro is also expected to participate in several U.N.-related activities during his stay and may meet with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a left-wing “Dignity in Democracy” summit. The proposed event is expected to focus on topics including social inequality, democratic institutions, and economic power.
However, uncertainty remains regarding whether the meeting will ultimately occur. Some reports indicate that Petro is scheduled to return to Colombia on June 11, while the summit is reportedly planned for June 12.
The trip marks Petro’s second visit to the United States this year. Earlier in 2026, he met with President Donald Trump at the White House after months of public tensions between the two leaders. That meeting followed previous controversies involving Petro's comments about the United States and President Trump during earlier visits.
Now, Petro arrives in New York under renewed scrutiny following a social media controversy that sparked international condemnation.
The Colombian president recently posted the phrase “Heil Hitler” in response to a newspaper opinion article discussing Colombia’s upcoming presidential runoff election. The post immediately generated backlash from political leaders, foreign officials, and advocacy organizations.
Among those condemning the remarks was Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which described Petro’s use of the Nazi slogan as a serious moral failure. Republican lawmakers in the United States, including Senator Rick Scott and Representative Carlos Gimenez, also criticized the Colombian leader.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon expressed concern that Petro would soon preside over a Security Council debate while facing criticism for invoking a Nazi slogan.
“President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, whatever is going on in your personal life, there are lines that must never be crossed. Using Nazi slogans is a disgraceful low from which there is no coming back,” Danon wrote.
Petro later attempted to explain the post, arguing that he was criticizing what he viewed as authoritarian political rhetoric. However, he did not issue a formal apology or retract the original message, leaving many critics unsatisfied.
The controversy expanded further when a coalition of 24 Latin American lawmakers affiliated with the Combat Antisemitism Movement released a joint statement condemning Petro’s use of the phrase. The lawmakers emphasized that references to Nazism have no place in responsible democratic discourse, particularly when made by a sitting head of state.
As Petro enters the final months of his presidency, the episode adds another chapter to an often turbulent tenure marked by frequent clashes with political opponents both at home and abroad. Apparently, when you're preparing to moderate a discussion on peace and diplomacy at the United Nations, invoking one of history's most infamous slogans is not generally considered ideal preparation.
With Colombia's presidential runoff approaching on June 21, Petro's actions continue to attract significant attention internationally. Whether his New York visit will be remembered for diplomatic achievements or the controversy surrounding his recent remarks remains to be seen, but the scrutiny surrounding the Colombian president shows little sign of fading.
Oh, well. We know Petro. He behaves like that ... totally out of lines -in plural-, if you know what we mean.
