Central America

Biden to receive President Chaves of Costa Rica next week

Photo: AP

August 25|

The presidents of the United States, Joe Biden, and Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves Robles, will meet in Washington on August 29 to discuss bilateral issues such as the economy, regional migration and cybersecurity, among others, the White House announced in a statement.

“The two leaders will discuss how our two countries can build inclusive and sustainable economies, including through the Partnership of the Americas for Economic Prosperity, promote democratic values in the region, promote orderly and safe migration in accordance with the principles of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, as well as address regional security challenges,” the statement said.

For its part, the Costa Rican government, in announcing Chaves’ visit to the United States, thanked “the most recent collaboration of General Laura Richardson, Commander of the United States Southern Command”.

Richardson visited San José this Monday and met with the Costa Rican president to establish a three-year security collaboration agreement that provides the Central American nation with an amount of 9.8 million dollars, which “will strengthen Costa Rica’s cyber defense capacity”, said the Southern Command in a statement.

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Biden and Chaves will also discuss what the United States sees as China’s growing influence in the region, Administration officials in Washington told Reuters. The United States and China have been on a path of tense relations for several years on issues such as security, trade tariffs, Taiwan, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, technology, human rights and espionage.

Costa Rica has for years been one of the transit countries for thousands of migrants moving northward in the region seeking to enter the United States.

Months ago, in coordination with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), one of the Secure Mobility Offices was established in Costa Rica, which seeks to accelerate the processing of refugees to the United States.

In this Central American country, where the process of registration of refugee applications began through invitations, UNHCR marked the arrival of 4,500 people, of which more than 1,300 migrants were referred to the US refugee program, reported last week Marta Youth, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration of the Department of State.

Focusing on the migration issue, the State Department announced on Wednesday the award of $16 million in humanitarian assistance for the initiative called the Western Hemisphere Regional Migration Program (WHP).

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The program is coordinated with the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The WHP was established in 2011 and “provides critical support to partner countries in the region to address unprecedented levels of forced displacement and irregular migration,” the U.S. Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In addition, this initiative is focused on addressing the actions of human smugglers.

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Central America

Guatemala narrows emergency measures to hardest-hit gang violence areas

The government of Guatemala has narrowed the scope of its state of emergency to the areas most affected by gang violence, Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda announced on Thursday.

The measure comes two months after coordinated attacks attributed to the Barrio 18 left 11 police officers dead.

President Bernardo Arévalo initially imposed a state of siege in mid-January following the violence, which was reportedly in retaliation for government intervention in three prisons where gang leaders had staged uprisings.

That measure, which allowed arrests without a warrant, expired after one month. It was then replaced by a less restrictive “state of prevention,” alongside an increased security deployment in Guatemala City and surrounding areas.

According to Villeda, the state of prevention has been extended for two additional weeks but will now apply primarily to the central department of Guatemala — home to the capital — and Escuintla, which have recorded the highest levels of homicides and criminal activity.

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“We need to continue these joint operations between the police and the military to maintain control,” the minister said.

The measure will also remain in effect in border departments including Petén, San Marcos and Huehuetenango, which border Mexico, as well as Izabal, which borders Honduras and Belize, in an effort to prevent the entry of criminal groups linked to drug trafficking.

Villeda added that in the past two weeks, homicides have dropped by 25% and extortion cases by 33% compared to the same period in 2025.

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.