Costa Rican president signals openness to domestic US military operations

What the report says

Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez has said she is open in principle to the idea of US military operations on Costa Rican territory, while stressing that any such move would need approval from the country’s legislature. In an interview with Reuters, as reported by Al Jazeera, Fernandez said there are no plans for US forces to operate in Costa Rica now, but argued that cooperation could be helpful for national security if aimed at transnational crime, drug trafficking or terrorism.

The comments come as Fernandez, a right-wing populist who took office in May, faces rising concern over crime and violence in Costa Rica. She won the presidency after a February election in which public safety was a major issue. Al Jazeera noted that she has not said she is considering declaring a state of emergency, a step that can expand police or military powers but also temporarily suspend some constitutional rights.

The report places her remarks in a wider regional context, including growing US pressure for tougher security policies in Latin America under President Donald Trump. It also notes that Washington has promoted military cooperation with some governments in the region, including Ecuador, drawing criticism from rights groups and others who warn about human rights risks and past interventionist policies.