Central America
Biden to receive President Chaves of Costa Rica next week
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.
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).
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).
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.
Central America
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
A container originating from El Salvador and carrying coffee for export was contaminated with more than 1,152 packages of drugs while in transit through Panama, according to official information confirmed by the Panamanian government this Tuesday.
The case, which had previously generated political controversy in April 2025 after opposition sectors attempted to link the Salvadoran government to drug trafficking, has now been clarified through renewed investigations.
Authorities confirmed that the container departed from the port of Acajutla after being properly inspected, with no illicit substances detected at the time of export.
According to statements previously provided by El Salvador’s Minister of Defense, René Merino Monroy, the shipment traveled first to the port of Balboa in Panama, where it remained stored for several days before being transferred to another vessel bound for Manzanillo in Colón.
It was at that terminal that Panamanian authorities discovered the drugs and identified tampering with the container seals, indicating that the illicit alteration occurred during its transit in Panama rather than in Salvadoran territory.
The findings align with earlier explanations provided by Salvadoran officials and confirm that the contamination of the cargo took place outside of El Salvador’s jurisdiction.
Central America
Uber Eats adds Puntarenas and Turrialba to growing Costa Rica network
Uber Eats announced that it is continuing to expand its presence in Costa Rica with the launch of operations in the cities of Puntarenas and Turrialba, further strengthening the company’s growth in the country.
With this expansion, the delivery platform is now available across all seven Costa Rican provinces and works with more than 6,000 partner businesses. Its offerings include prepared food, supermarkets, pharmacies, pet stores, and other specialty retailers.
As part of the announcement, Uber Eats also introduced Marco Nannipieri as its new Regional General Manager for the Andean Region, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Nannipieri will oversee the company’s operations in Costa Rica along with seven other countries in the region.
“Costa Rica is a key market for Uber Eats in the region, with growing adoption of technology among users and businesses. Over the past five years, more than 1,000 restaurants and merchants have joined the app, and today we are entering a new stage of expansion that will allow us to reach more cities outside the Greater Metropolitan Area, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs across the country,” Nannipieri said.
Central America
Report questions direction of Nasry Asfura after 100 days in office
The Center for the Study of Democracy warned Tuesday that the government of Nasry Asfura, which marks its first 100 days in office on Wednesday, has failed to show a “significant change in direction” and continues to follow a model characterized by exclusion, inequality, and external dependence.
In its report titled “100 Days of the Nasry Asfura Government: Concerns and Demands,” Cespad stated that the administration has maintained an economic and political model that prioritizes debt payments, the promotion of extractive projects, and the strengthening of the security apparatus over social investment.
The organization argued that the current policies have not addressed structural problems affecting large sectors of the Honduran population and warned that inequality and economic dependence remain key challenges for the country.
Nasry Asfura won the general elections held on November 30, 2025, in a process marked by allegations of fraud and delays in the vote count that lasted nearly a month due to a series of technological failures.
Panama confirms drug contamination of El Salvador coffee shipment occurred on its territory
Trump floats Vance-Rubio potential Republican ticket for 2028 election
Russia Accuses Ukraine of Violating Victory Day Truce
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
