Oscar Arias, the acclaimed former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, recently announced that his US visa has been revoked, an action that follows his public critique of former President Donald Trump. During a press conference in San José, the 84-year-old Arias expressed that he learned about his visa cancellation through a brief email after voicing concerns over Trump's governing style, likening it to that of a "Roman emperor."
Arias, who garnered the Nobel Prize for his efforts to resolve conflicts in Central America, received no detailed explanation regarding the revocation from US authorities. Nonetheless, he speculated that his visa's cancellation could stem from his actions as president from 2006 to 2010 when he established diplomatic relations with China, notably severing ties with Taiwan. "I have no idea" why this decision was made, Arias remarked, though he emphasized that the strained relations between the US and several Central American nations regarding China play a role.
He indicated that it might be the US State Department behind the visa revocation rather than the former president personally. Arias's critical stance toward the current Costa Rican leadership, and an increasing alignment with the US government, has placed him at odds with officials opposed to President Rodrigo Chaves's decision to keep Chinese firms from participating in Costa Rica's 5G development projects.
His disagreement with the US’s political directives is not an isolated incident, as three members of Costa Rica's national assembly who also critiqued President Chaves for their policies have similarly reported visa cancellations. This situation reflects the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding US relations with Central America, particularly concerning Chinese influence in the region.
