Oscar Arias Announces Revocation of U.S. Visa Following Criticism of Trump
Former Costa Rican President Oscar Arias reported that the U.S. has revoked his visa shortly after criticizing President Donald Trump. Arias, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, expressed concern over the pressures faced by small countries from U.S. policy, particularly regarding China’s influence. This event follows similar visa revocations for other Costa Rican officials opposed to U.S. demands.
Oscar Arias, the former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Prize laureate, announced that the United States has revoked his visa. This action follows his recent criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, where he likened Trump to “a Roman emperor” on social media. Arias served as Costa Rican President from 1986 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2010, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts in Central American peace negotiations.
Arias, who is 84 years old, revealed that he received a brief email from the U.S. government regarding the visa suspension, which did not provide specific reasons for this decision. He stated, “The communication was very terse, it does not give reasons,” and refrained from elaborating on his theories about why this occurred.
In February, Arias criticized the Costa Rican government led by President Rodrigo Chaves for allegedly capitulating to U.S. pressures, particularly concerning China’s influence and the deportation of migrants into Central America. He posted on social media, “It has never been easy for a small country to disagree with the U.S. government,” highlighting the challenges faced by smaller nations regarding U.S. policies.
Arias’s remarks coincided with the U.S. revoking visas from three Costa Rican lawmakers who opposed the exclusion of Chinese firms from Costa Rica’s 5G development, a stance influenced by U.S. demands. Furthermore, another opposition lawmaker was stripped of her U.S. visa shortly thereafter. In addition, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had recently offered to assist the Chaves government in controlling foreign influence on Costa Rican cybersecurity.
In summary, Oscar Arias has confirmed the revocation of his U.S. visa following his criticism of President Trump. This incident reflects broader diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Costa Rica, especially concerning U.S. influence on the region and the relationship with China. Arias’ statements reveal the challenges faced by small nations in opposing U.S. policies, particularly when related to foreign relations.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
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