Former Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, has announced that his US visa has been revoked, a decision he believes may stem from his criticism of Donald Trump. The 84-year-old Nobel laureate, recognized for his role in ending Central American conflicts, shared in a news conference that he was notified of the cancellation through a brief email without any detailed reasoning.
Arias speculated that his past diplomatic relations with China, established during his presidency from 2006 to 2010, could be a factor, given that the Trump administration has shown apprehension toward Chinese influence in Latin America. In February, Arias criticized President Trump for his authoritarian style of leadership, comparing it to a Roman emperor.
He emphasized that during his time in office, Costa Rica maintained autonomy and did not take orders from Washington. Interestingly, he is not alone; several Costa Rican lawmakers who also opposed the current president's exclusion of Chinese firms from 5G development have faced similar visa cancellations.
