In brief
Oscar Arias, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of Costa Rica, claims his US visa was canceled following critical remarks about Donald Trump and US foreign policy.
Former Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, has announced that his US visa has been revoked, a decision he believes may stem from his criticism of Donald Trump.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.
