Former Costa Rican president and Nobel laureate, Oscar Arias, announced on Tuesday that his visa to enter the United States had been revoked. This decision comes weeks after he criticized Donald Trump on social media, comparing his behavior to that of a “Roman emperor.”

Arias, who served as president from 1986 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2010, is a self-proclaimed pacifist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts in brokering peace during the Central American conflicts of the 1980s. He also promoted a free trade agreement with the United States during his last term and established diplomatic ties with China in 2007.

Arias received an email from the US government informing him of the suspension of his visa, without providing any specific reasons. He suggested that there may be conjectures behind this decision. In February, Arias had accused the current government of President Rodrigo Chavez of succumbing to US pressure, as the US seeks to counter China’s influence in the region and has deported migrants from third countries to Central America.

Arias had previously stated on social media that it is challenging for a small country to disagree with the US government, especially when the US president behaves like a Roman emperor, dictating what others should do. His statements came after the US withdrew visas from three Costa Rican lawmakers who opposed Chavez’s decision to exclude Chinese firms from participating in the development of 5G in the country. On Tuesday, another opposition lawmaker lost her US visa.

In early February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Costa Rica and offered to assist Chavez in “punishing” Costa Rican officials who collaborate with “foreign actors who pose a threat to the country’s cybersecurity.”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/01/costa-rica-oscar-arias-visa-trump