Costa Rican ex President Oscar Arias says US revoked his visa

Record ID: 1987796

  • Title: Costa Rican ex President Oscar Arias says US revoked his visa
  • Date: 2nd April 2025
  • Summary: SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA (APRIL 1, 2025) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FORMER PRESIDENT, OSCAR ARIAS, SAYING: "I have 93 honorary doctorates from universities around the world, but 90% of those doctorates are from North American universities. They have honored me more than I deserve. I received the Freedom Medal from Philadelphia, the Martin Luther King award, lots of awards
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  • Keywords: Costa Rica Oscar Arias US former president revoked visa
  • Location: SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
  • City: SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
  • Country: Costa Rica
  • Topics: South America / Central America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA003346201042025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Former Costa Rican President and Nobel Prize winner Oscar Arias said on Tuesday (April 1) that the U.S. had revoked his visa to enter the country, weeks after he criticized U.S. President Donald Trump on social media.
    Arias, 84, was president between 1986 and 1990 and again between 2006 and 2010. A self-declared pacifist, he won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in brokering peace during the Central American conflicts of the 1980s.
    Arias also promoted a free trade agreement with the U.S. during his last term and in 2007 established diplomatic ties with China.
    In February, Arias had on social media accused the current government of President Rodrigo Chaves of giving in to U.S. pressure, as the U.S. has sought to oppose China's influence in the region and deported migrants from third countries into Central America.
    His statements came after the U.S. withdrew visas from three Costa Rican lawmakers who opposed Chaves' decision to exclude Chinese firms from participating in the development of 5G in the country, following U.S. demands.
    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had in early February visited Costa Rica and offered to help Chaves "punish" Costa Rican officials who collaborate with "foreign actors who pose a threat to the country's cybersecurity."
    (Production: Hector Guzman, Rodolfo Pena Roja, Gloria Lopez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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