Costa Rica President welcomes potential U.S. ground operations

Costa Rican President Laura Fernández has expressed openness to potential U.S. ground operations within her country to combat transnational crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. While Fernández noted that no concrete plans are currently being developed with Washington and emphasized that any such action would require legislative approval, she suggested these operations could bolster national security.

The President's comments come as Costa Rica grapples with rising violence linked to drug smuggling. Although homicide rates reached a record 17.2 per 100,000 people in 2023, judicial data indicates a 14% decrease in homicides during the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year.

This development follows an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump for Costa Rica to join the ‘Americas Shield’ coalition, a group aimed at combating drug gangs across the continent. While Costa Rica and the United States have long cooperated on security matters, such as joint maritime patrols, other major regional powers like Mexico and Brazil have declined to participate in U.S.-led military alliances for drug enforcement on their territories.