US Revokes Óscar Arias Sánchez Visa

The US revoked the visa of Óscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. This decision came weeks after Óscar Arias publicly criticized Donald Trump, comparing him to a 'Roman emperor'. Óscar Arias also hinted that the revocation might be linked to his 2007 decision to establish diplomatic relations with China, cutting ties with Taiwan, during his presidency. The United States has been actively opposing China's influence in the Western Hemisphere and has pressured countries like Costa Rica to exclude Chinese firms from 5G development. The current Costa Rican President, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, has been supportive of the US stance, a position that Óscar Arias has also criticized. Additionally, three Costa Rican lawmakers who opposed Rodrigo Chaves Robles' decree to exclude Chinese companies from 5G networks also had their US visas revoked.