US revokes visa of Chile transport minister

• Visa Sanctions on Chilean Officials: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa restrictions against three outgoing members of President Gabriel Boric's administration—including Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz—accusing them of compromising telecommunications infrastructure and undermining regional security.
• Diplomatic Shift Toward Kast: The move marks a sharp "parting shot" at Boric’s leftist government as the US prepares to align with far-right President-elect José Antonio Kast, who takes office on March 11 with a platform focused on security and mass deportations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday the United States would refuse visas to several outgoing Chilean officials, in a parting shot at leftist President Gabriel Boric.

Rubio, a Cuban-American and fierce opponent of Latin American leftists, has hailed the election victory of Boric's far-right successor Jose Antonio Kast, who campaigned like US President Donald Trump on promises of mass deportations of migrants.

Kast takes office on March 11.

Rubio said the United States would restrict visas to three Chilean government officials, whom he did not name.

In Santiago, Transport Minister Juan Carlos Munoz said he is one of the three. "I deeply regret this," Munoz said in a video sent to the press.

Rubio said the officials "compromised critical telecommunications infrastructure and undermined regional security in our hemisphere," without specifying further.

"In its twilight, the Boric government's legacy shall be further tarnished by actions that undermine regional security at the ultimate expense of the Chilean people," Rubio said in a statement.

"We look forward to advancing shared priorities, including those that strengthen security in our hemisphere, with the incoming Kast administration."

Santiago denied the accusations against Chilean officials and condemned the sanctions.

"The government of Chile rejects these accusations and categorically denies participating in activities that undermine the security of the continent or of third countries," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren summoned the US ambassador to Chile, Brandon Judd, to learn details of the accusations and the names of those involved.

During his tenure, Boric, a 40-year-old former student activist, carried out socialist reforms including reducing the working week. He had a warm relationship with Trump's predecessor Joe Biden.

Since Trump returned to power, the United States has ramped up pressure on communist Cuba and initially on the elected leftist presidents of Brazil and Colombia, although both have since moved to more civil relationships with Washington.

Trump on January 3 ordered an attack in Venezuela in which US forces abducted leader Nicolas Maduro, although the US administration has since been working with interim president Delcy Rodriguez, who was Maduro's number two.