President Gustavo Petro is already in New York, where he will give his final speech before the UN: Palestine will be the center of the debate.

President Gustavo Petro is now in New York, where he will give his final speech before the United Nations (UN).

The Colombian president will participate in the United Nations General Assembly, which officially opens on Tuesday, September 23.

President Petro and his delegation were received by the Colombian ambassador to the United States, Daniel García-Peña, and other officials.

The Head of State's address will take place on the opening day of the Assembly and will focus on the war in the Gaza Strip.

This will be Petro's fourth and final speech before the General Assembly during his term. It will be his final appearance, as his presidential term will end on August 7, 2026.

Last Friday, in a statement to EFE, Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio stated that President Petro will deliver a message of "hope and peace" to the UN. He will also propose the creation of an "armed peace force" to halt the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

"The world needs to hear a message of hope. The fight for world peace will be one of the pillars of our work (…) also to end the genocide in Gaza," Villavicencio concluded.

It's worth remembering that in his previous speech, delivered in September 2024, Petro focused his message on the climate crisis and the urgent need to decarbonize the global economy. However, he also addressed the violent deaths of innocent people in Gaza and called for peace.

Until Saturday, September 27, when he returns to the country, the President will participate in other activities. Next Friday, September 26, he will attend a meeting of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which seeks to promote intercultural dialogue and international cooperation.

According to Foreign Minister Villavicencio, the president will also participate in meetings of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), which will focus on promoting the region's social and economic integration and strengthening the protection of the Amazon.

In addition, the President will meet with members of Congress from the United States Democratic Party and with that party's candidate for mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani.

In addition, the president and the Colombian delegation will participate in the tribute to former Uruguayan President José "Pepe" Mujica, who died in May of this year.

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