Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez Expresses Openness to US Military Operations Amid Rising Security Concerns

Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez has suggested that United States military operations within the country’s territory could offer national security benefits, though she emphasized that any such measures would require approval from the national legislature.

Speaking in an interview published on Friday with Reuters at the presidential palace in San Jose, Costa Rica, Fernandez noted that there are currently no active plans for US forces to operate in the nation. However, she highlighted the potential advantages of pursuing common objectives against transnational crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism.

Fernandez, a right-wing populist who took office in May after succeeding her mentor, former President Rodrigo Chaves, ran on a tough-on-crime platform. Despite rising concerns over security and a homicide rate that has doubled over the past decade to reach 17.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, she stated that she is not currently considering a state of emergency.

Her remarks coincide with growing pressure from the US and President Donald Trump to expand military engagements and combat drug trafficking across Latin America through initiatives like the “Shield of the Americas” or the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC). While some regional nations have resisted foreign military interventions due to historical interventions and human rights concerns, others, such as Ecuador, have welcomed security cooperation, despite facing mounting scrutiny and warnings from groups like Human Rights Watch over alleged abuses.