US Revokes Visas for Chilean Officials: Chile Protests “Unilateral” Action

Chile Condemns U.S. Visa Revocations, Protests ‘Unilateral’ Action

Santiago, Chile – February 21, 2026 – Chilean President Gabriel Boric swiftly addressed the revocation of U.S. Visas for three Chilean officials, calling the move a violation of his country’s sovereignty and lodging a formal protest with the United States. The decision by Washington, announced on Friday, stems from accusations that the officials were involved in actions compromising critical telecommunications infrastructure and regional security.

President Boric, who returned from a trip to Rapa Nui on Friday evening, immediately convened a meeting at the Palacio de La Moneda with Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde and Foreign Minister Alberto Van Klaveren to discuss the situation. He arrived back on the mainland around 8:10 PM local time, according to reports.

The U.S. State Department announced the visa restrictions for the unnamed Chilean authorities, stating that those affected – and their immediate families – are now barred from entering the United States. All previously issued U.S. Visas held by the individuals have also been revoked.

Chile’s Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz, publicly confirmed he was among those sanctioned. “I was recently informed that my visa to enter the United States has been revoked by that country, which I deeply regret,” Muñoz stated. He emphasized his ministry’s four-year commitment to improving digital connectivity throughout Chile, recognizing its importance in modern life.

The other two officials affected by the U.S. Action are Claudio Araya, the Undersecretary of Telecommunications, and Guillermo Petersen, the Chief of Staff, according to reports.

In response, Foreign Minister Van Klaveren summoned U.S. Ambassador Brandon Judd to deliver a formal note of protest. “The government condemns this unilateral measure, which, incidentally, violates the independence and sovereignty of our country,” Van Klaveren stated. “For that reason, we also proceeded to deliver a note of protest to the United States, to Ambassador Judd in the meeting we had a few hours ago at the Foreign Ministry.”

The move by the U.S. Comes amidst broader regional tensions and echoes concerns raised by Chile regarding unilateral actions by external powers. In January, President Boric strongly condemned the U.S. Military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, warning that such interventions set “an extremely dangerous precedent” for regional stability. He argued at the time that “force cannot replace rules” in resolving international conflicts and that the threat of external control over another country’s resources endangers the sovereignty of all nations in the hemisphere.

The Chilean president has consistently emphasized the importance of international law and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. He stated that sovereignty and international law are “not optional” but “the foundation of any legitimate order.”

The U.S. Action against the Chilean officials raises questions about the current state of relations between the two countries and the potential for further diplomatic fallout. The Chilean government has not indicated whether it will take further steps in response to the visa revocations, but the strong language used by President Boric and Foreign Minister Van Klaveren suggests a firm stance against what they view as an unacceptable infringement on Chile’s sovereignty.

The incident also highlights the growing international debate surrounding the use of unilateral coercive measures – sanctions and visa restrictions – as tools of foreign policy. A 2023 study highlighted that such measures are often condemned as violations of international law and can have negative impacts on human rights. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures visited Venezuela in February 2021 to investigate the effects of such measures on the Venezuelan people.