U.S. Restores Visa for Former Chilean Minister Amidst Chinese Cable Project Controversy

The United States has restored the travel visa for former Chilean Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz. The document had been revoked in February during a period of intense controversy surrounding a proposed undersea cable project intended to link Chile directly with China.

According to Chilean newspaper La Tercera, the U.S. government's decision to return the travel document marks the end of the sanction previously imposed on Muñoz. The initial revocation in February also affected Claudio Araya, the then-undersecretary of Telecommunications, and his chief of staff, Guillermo Petersen, all of whom were involved in the management of the so-called "Chinese cable" project.

At the time of the revocation, U.S. authorities stated that the officials had engaged in actions they believed compromised critical telecommunications infrastructure and posed a risk to regional security. This decision coincided with the administration of President Gabriel Boric's push for the undersea cable initiative, which had drawn significant reservations from Washington due to China's potential involvement.

Following the initial visa cancellation, Muñoz had emphasized his personal and familial ties to the United States, noting that he had established his family and pursued his studies there. He expressed that the decision was particularly impactful due to his strong personal connection to the country.