The Straits Times World News
· collected 2026-09-04 · by The Straits Times
Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez has stated in an interview with Reuters that US ground forces could be beneficial in strengthening national security in Costa Rica, specifically in combating transnational crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. The homicide rate in Costa Rica reached a record 17.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, but has since declined by 14% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Fernandez emphasized that any deployment of US ground forces would require legislative approval and be based on pursuing common objectives with Washington. The president has also been at odds with Costa Rica's courts over issues such as judicial corruption, administrative failures, and the funding of the judiciary.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez has suggested that United States military operations in her country could be beneficial for national security, but emphasized that any such move would require approval from the national legislature. In an interview with Reuters, Fernandez stated that it would be "very good for national security" to have US ground forces operating in Costa Rica if their goal is to combat transnational crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism. However, she added that there are no concrete plans for US military operations in the country at this time. This openness to US involvement comes as Fernandez has campaigned on a tough-on-crime platform since taking office in May, with concerns about security and rising violence playing a prominent role in her election. Costa Rica has been experiencing a spike in drug trafficking and violence, with a record 17.2 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in recent years. The country has cooperated with the US on security matters for years, including through joint maritime patrols.
Written for “Costa Rica Military Cooperation” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 1 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 4070: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-04
Costa Rica president says US ground forces would help national security
SAN JOSE, Sept 4 - Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez said on Friday that U.S. ground operations could strengthen national security in the Central American nation, while emphasizing that nothing concrete was in the works with Washington and any such move would require legislative approval.
uncertain
move → say → approval
"It would obviously be very good for national security if it were about pursuing a common objective against transnational crime, transnational drug trafficking, transnational terrorism," Fernandez told Reuters in an interview, when asked about the possibility of U.S. ground operations on Costa Rican soil.
asserted
Fernandez → pursue → soil
Costa Rica and the U.S. have cooperated for years on security matters, including through joint maritime patrols.
asserted
Rica → cooperate → patrols
U.S. President Donald Trump invited Costa Rica to join his Shield of the Americas coalition, which is aimed at combating drug cartels.
asserted
which → invite → cartels
A right-wing populist who took office in May, Fernandez campaigned on a tough anti-crime platform, vowing to restore order in Costa Rica, a country that has seen a spike in drug trafficking and violence in recent years.
uncertain
that → take → years
The homicide rate hit a record 17.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, double the rate of a decade ago.
asserted
rate → hit → 2023
Fernandez said she is not considering requesting from Congress a state of emergency or suspending constitutional guarantees in order to address the wave of violence, noting that homicides are declining.
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homicides → say → violence
Court data shows that in the first half of 2026 homicides fell 14% compared to the same period in 2025.
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homicides → show → 2025
Fernandez has been in a tense standoff with Costa Rica's courts, accusing the judiciary of being infiltrated by organized crime and blocking her tough-on-crime security policies.
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Fernandez → accuse → policies
"I've been very critical of how slow the courts are, very critical in specific cases where judges release convicted criminals long before their sentences are complete, and I've also been very critical of administrative failures and potential corruption in the judiciary," Fernandez said.
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Fernandez → release → judiciary
The dispute has increasingly centered on the judiciary's role and funding.
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dispute → center → role
Fernandez has backed significant budget cuts to the judicial branch and supports a legislative proposal to have Congress, rather than the Supreme Court, appoint the attorney general.
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Fernandez → back → general
Judicial officials have denied corruption allegations, challenging Fernandez to provide evidence.
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officials → deny → evidence
They argue that budget cuts planned for 2026 and 2027 would weaken democratic checks and balances and undermine efforts to fight crime.
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cuts → argue → crime
