Costa Rica president signals openness to possible US military operations, with legislative approval required

Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez has said United States military operations in Costa Rica could be beneficial for national security, while stressing that any such move would need approval from the country's legislature. She also said there are no plans currently in the works for US forces to operate in the country. The remarks amount to a notable policy signal in a country where concerns about violence and organised crime have been rising.

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Fernandez made the comments in an interview published on Friday, according to the supplied report. She said the idea could be useful if it served a common objective against transnational crime, drug trafficking and terrorism. Fernandez, who took office in May, is described in the report as a right-wing populist and the successor to her mentor, former President Rodrigo Chaves.

The president's comments come against a backdrop of heightened public concern over security in Costa Rica. The report says crime was a major issue in the February election, and that the country's homicide rate has doubled over the past decade to 17.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023. While that remains below levels seen in some other countries in the region, the increase has been linked in part to greater drug trafficking activity and has unsettled many residents.

The remarks also reflect wider pressure from the United States to reduce crime across the Western Hemisphere. The report says US President Donald Trump has sought to expand American influence in Latin America during his second term, including through military engagements. It also notes that he launched the "Shield of the Americas", also known as the Americas Counter Cartel Co, earlier this year, as part of that approach.

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Fernandez has also said she is not currently considering a state of emergency to address violence. Such declarations typically suspend key constitutional rights and give police or the military broader powers to crack down on crime. The report notes that this model has been popularised by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, although critics argue emergency measures are meant to be temporary rather than prolonged.

What remains unclear is whether any formal proposal for US military operations will emerge, and if so, what form it might take. The president's comments indicate openness in principle, but she has drawn a clear line around legislative approval and the absence of any current plan. The next developments to watch are whether the government faces domestic political pushback, whether security conditions worsen further, and whether the issue becomes part of a broader debate over emergency powers and foreign involvement in public security.

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