Former Costa Rican President Óscar Arias Sánchez, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, recently had his U.S. visa rescinded by the U.S. State Department under President Trump’s administration. Arias, aged 84, disclosed in an interview with Morning Edition that officials at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica informed him of the revocation due to his significant connections with the Chinese government. Arias, who served as Costa Rica’s president from 1986 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2010, was instrumental in establishing formal relations with China in 2007.
Earlier this year, Arias publicly criticized President Trump on social media, likening him to a “Roman emperor” for allegedly dictating to the world. He expressed concern to NPR that these remarks might have contributed to the decision to revoke his visa. Arias remarked that he perceives President Trump as unaccepting of critique or differing opinions.
When inquired about Arias’s visa revocation, a spokesperson from the U.S. State Department stated that visa records are confidential under U.S. law, prohibiting disclosure of individual visa case details. Arias discussed these developments with NPR’s Leila Fadel, exploring topics including his visa revocation, President Trump, and U.S. international relations.
Arias recounted receiving a brief email on April 1, notifying him of his B1/B2 visa cancellation. Upon visiting the embassy, as it was nearby, officials clarified that the revocation was due to his ties with China, established during his tenure when Costa Rica formed diplomatic relations with the nation due to its economic significance.
In response to whether his vocal criticism of President Trump influenced the visa decision, Arias speculated that while the embassy attributed the reason to his relationship with China, his critique might have impacted the situation. Arias argued that a true friendship allows for disagreements, recounting his past opposition to U.S. military support for the Contras in Central America during the Reagan era, which affected Costa Rica.
Highlighting his support for noble causes, Arias noted his children’s education in the U.S. and the numerous honorary degrees he has received from American universities. He asserted his amicability towards the U.S., despite differences, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression and criticism in a democratic society.
The article was edited for NPR’s broadcast by Reena Advani and produced by Julie Depenbrock, with Treye Green providing editorial oversight for the print version.
