Central America
US Congressman Gaetz praises El Salvador’s transformation under President Bukele
Matthew Louis Gaetz, a Republican Congressman from the United States, highlighted in an interview how El Salvador, under the presidency of Nayib Bukele, has transitioned from a “failed state” to positioning itself as the Singapore of the Western Hemisphere.
The American official recalled his recent visit to the country for President Bukele’s inauguration ceremony, marking the beginning of his second term on June 1st.
“I just returned from El Salvador. I was at Bukele’s inauguration. He is one of the most impressive people I’ve ever met. I saw a country that was basically a failed state and now is positioned to be the Singapore of the Western Hemisphere,” Gaetz said.
He added that if El Salvador, with a population of 6 million, has managed to reach this position “by simply imprisoning 70,000 people, then I’m not convinced that Canada is so dominated by globalists that it can’t overcome them.”
President Bukele’s security strategy, implementing the Territorial Control Plan, reinforced by the state of emergency, is the most successful in the country’s history and an example to the world. Last year, the homicide rate closed at 2.4 per 100,000 inhabitants; there was also a decline in crimes such as extortion, robbery, theft, and assaults nationwide. By the end of the first quarter of 2024 (January-March), it was 1.5.
In response to the interviewer’s comments about the need for countries to choose leaders “who believe in their citizens and want to support them,” Congressman Gaetz noted, “That’s right, although it must be more enduring than that. It has to last longer than just one person, but I think in every great movement, there are people who become the vanguard.”
“I saw people in the congress [Legislative Assembly], in the government, in the diplomatic corps, for whom Bukelism is emerging as a concept […] and I think that’s what attracts the younger generation,” the congressman reflected.
He mentioned that President Bukele showed him a photo depicting how students in a public school no longer aspire to be gang members or thieves but rather police officers, chefs, and entrepreneurs. “Compare that with our situation,” he said, expressing his admiration for discovering in a Salvadoran karaoke that Father’s Day is celebrated throughout June.
Central America
El Salvador and Chile Mark 150 Years of Relations With Expanded Bilateral Cooperation
El Salvador and Chile are strengthening their diplomatic and cooperation ties through the official visit of Salvadoran Deputy Foreign Minister Adriana Mira to the South American country.
The purpose of the visit is to expand economic exchanges, promote new cooperation opportunities, and strengthen the bonds of friendship between both nations, according to El Salvador’s Foreign Ministry.
During her visit, Mira held a meeting with her Chilean counterpart, Patricio Torres, where they discussed issues of common interest and actions aimed at further advancing bilateral relations.
The agenda included initiatives to promote trade, encourage investment in strategic sectors, and strengthen joint efforts in different areas of cooperation.
As part of this process, both countries are preparing the 5th Meeting of the Joint Commission for Technical and Scientific Cooperation, where they are expected to establish a new framework for bilateral collaboration aimed at creating mutual benefits.
The meeting also carried a historic significance, as El Salvador and Chile are commemorating 150 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
Representatives from both governments highlighted the importance of continuing to deepen their ties of friendship and cooperation to support shared development goals.
El Salvador’s Foreign Ministry emphasized that the relationship between both countries seeks to advance greater economic, commercial, and technical integration while taking advantage of new opportunities for collaboration.
International
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes History as First Player to Score in Six World Cups
Cristiano Ronaldo made football history on Tuesday by becoming the first player ever to score in six different editions of the FIFA World Cup.
The Portuguese forward opened the scoring in Portugal’s Group K match against Uzbekistan in Houston. Just six minutes into the game, Ronaldo found the back of the net with a right-footed strike from inside the box, sending the Portuguese fans into celebration.
The “Commander” sparked excitement throughout the stadium with his iconic celebration, as supporters joined in with his famous “Siuuu!” chant to honor another milestone in the career of one of football’s greatest stars.
At 41 years old, Ronaldo has now scored in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, and North America 2026. With his two goals in this tournament, he has surpassed Lionel Messi’s record, as the Argentine has scored in every World Cup he played except South Africa 2010.
The Portuguese captain has also reached nine World Cup goals, matching Eusébio as Portugal’s all-time top scorer in the history of the tournament.
Ronaldo’s achievement came just one day after Messi also made history by becoming the outright leading scorer in World Cup history, reaching 18 goals after scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria.
With his appearance at the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has also extended another remarkable record by becoming the first player to participate in six consecutive editions of the tournament, further cementing his legacy as one of the most influential players in football history.
Central America
Costa Rica Launches Largest Police Operation in History, Dismantles Major Drug Cartel
Costa Rican judicial authorities on Tuesday announced the largest police operation in the country’s history, resulting in the dismantling of a major local drug trafficking organization allegedly led by a man who was extradited to the United States earlier this year.
More than 1,500 law enforcement officers carried out 97 raids across different regions of the country, targeting 41 suspects and seizing assets valued at nearly $22 million, according to Michael Soto, director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ).
Speaking in a video statement, Soto described the operation as unprecedented in scale and coordination.
“This is the largest operation we have ever conducted. Never before have we carried out so many raids with our officers working alongside prosecutors from the Public Ministry and security forces from the Executive Branch. It is historic,” Soto said.
The operation, dubbed “Riverside,” was the result of months of investigations conducted with support from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Authorities said the large-scale crackdown dismantled one of the country’s most significant criminal organizations involved in international drug trafficking, a major contributor to the security crisis affecting the Central American nation, long known for its stability and tourism industry.
According to investigators, the operation focused on uncovering the multimillion-dollar business activities of a Costa Rican criminal network allied with a Colombian group known as “Los Costeños.”
The alleged leader of the organization was identified as Edwin Pérez, also known as “Pecho de Rata,” who was extradited to the United States on March 20 alongside former Security Minister and former Supreme Court magistrate Celso Gamboa.
Both men were arrested on June 23, 2025, shortly after a legislative reform came into effect allowing Costa Rican citizens suspected of drug trafficking to be extradited to foreign jurisdictions.
Among those detained during the operation were two prison officers, two former professional football players and a model. Prosecutors indicated that the suspects could face charges including domestic and international drug trafficking, arms trafficking, possession of explosives, smuggling drugs into correctional facilities, money laundering and participation in organized criminal activities.
Authorities stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional arrests and asset seizures could follow as prosecutors continue to examine the network’s operations and financial structure.
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