Central America

Central American officials to participate in COMITRAN intersectoral meeting in El Salvador

May 15 |

Delegations of ministers and vice ministers of Transportation and Infrastructure of Central America arrived this Monday, May 15, in El Salvador to participate in the fourth intersectoral meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers of Transportation and Infrastructure of Central America (COMITRAN), in which the Regional Master Plan for Mobility and Logistics until 2035 will be approved.

El Salvador’s Minister of Public Works, Romeo Rodríguez, assumed this year’s protempore presidency of COMITRAN, which is made up of the ministers of transportation and infrastructure of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.

On Sunday, Panama’s delegation, headed by Rictzy Aparicio, Director of Planning and Budget, entered the country. The Honduran delegation, led by Bayardo Pogoada Figueroa, Undersecretary of Transportation, and the Nicaraguan delegation, headed by Efraín Zeledón, Vice-Minister of Infrastructure, and Oscar Mejía, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, have now arrived in the country. Representing Costa Rica was Efraín Zeledón Leiva, Vice Minister of Infrastructure; and from Guatemala, Admiral Erick Alejandro Sánchez.

Rictzy Aparicio, Director of Planning and Budget of Panama’s Ministry of Public Works.
Technical commissions from the Central American Economic Integration System (SIECA), the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are also participating in this important meeting.

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According to the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), these organizations have played a key role in the formulation of the Regional Mobility and Logistics Master Plan. As part of the agenda, the meeting of the Council of Ministers will begin at 1:30 to 6:30 pm, after which officials will move to the National Palace, where they will enjoy a cultural event.

Central America

Costa Rica closes embassy in Cuba, citing human rights concerns

The government of Costa Rica announced on Wednesday the closure of its embassy in Cuba, a move that signals a further deterioration in diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Foreign Minister Arnoldo André confirmed that Costa Rica has also requested the withdrawal of Cuban diplomatic personnel from San José, leaving only consular representation in place.

According to André, the decision is driven by concerns over the worsening human rights situation on the island, including increased repression against citizens and opposition figures.

He also noted that Cuba’s ongoing economic and social crisis—marked by shortages of food, medicine, and basic services—has made the operation of the embassy increasingly difficult.

President Rodrigo Chaves backed the measure, stating that his administration does not recognize the legitimacy of Cuba’s political system.

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In response, the Cuban government rejected the decision, calling it a “unilateral” move taken under pressure from United States.

“Under pressure from the United States, Costa Rica has limited its relations with Cuba to consular matters,” Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said, describing the action as “arbitrary.”

Despite the diplomatic setback, Cuban authorities stated that historical ties between the two nations would endure.

Central America

Costa Rica closes Cuba embassy as president escalates rhetoric

The president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, escalated political rhetoric on Wednesday, stating that “the hemisphere must be cleansed of communists,” following his government’s decision to close its embassy in Cuba.

The remarks come as Costa Rica moves to downgrade diplomatic relations with the island, citing a sustained deterioration in human rights. Chaves reiterated that his administration does not recognize the legitimacy of the Cuban government, accusing it of repression and of maintaining poor living conditions for its population.

“We do not recognize the legitimacy of that government. We will not maintain a consulate there; services will be handled from Panama,” Chaves said during a press conference.

The president also argued that the communist model has “failed” not only in Cuba but in every country where it has been implemented, emphasizing that freedom is essential for development.

The decision was made in coordination with president-elect Laura Fernández, who is set to take office on May 8 and is expected to maintain the same foreign policy stance.

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Foreign Minister Arnoldo André confirmed the closure of the embassy in Havana and requested that Cuba withdraw its diplomatic personnel from San José, while maintaining limited consular functions.

Costa Rican authorities justified the move by pointing to increased repression against citizens, activists, and opposition figures, as well as restrictions on fundamental freedoms.

The closure marks a new point of tension in bilateral relations and comes amid growing international pressure on Cuba.

Central America

Analyst questions IACHR role over report on El Salvador emergency measures

Political analyst Óscar Martínez Peñate on Tuesday called for a review of the role currently played by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), arguing that it has undermined its credibility by hosting the presentation of a report critical of El Salvador.

Speaking during the interview program Panorama, Martínez questioned the commission’s decision to accept a report prepared by the Grupo Internacional de Expertas y Expertos para la Investigación de Violaciones de Derechos Humanos en El Salvador, which examines alleged human rights violations under the country’s state of emergency.

“We should examine what the current role of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights is. How is it possible that they agree to host the presentation of a report whose premise is against a State, a government, a political system, and Salvadoran society?” Martínez said.

He added that by allowing the presentation of the report, the commission “automatically disqualifies itself.”

Martínez also questioned whether it is appropriate for the IACHR to serve as a “platform” for what he described as the defense of criminals, by treating the GIPES report as credible.

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According to the analyst, the commission is acting in a way that contradicts its mandate by enabling narratives that, in his view, go against Salvadoran society.