US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Costa Rica on Tuesday, marking the third stop on his Latin American tour aimed at bolstering alliances in migration, security, and other areas. Washington seeks to position itself as a reliable partner in the region amidst China's growing influence.
In his first trip since assuming office two weeks ago, Rubio, the first Hispanic to lead US diplomacy, landed at Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, where he was greeted by Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André Tinoco.
Rubio completed two official visits to Panama and El Salvador, where he met with the presidents of both countries. In San Salvador, he signed a series of agreements, including one in which the Central American nation would accept "criminal" migrants deported from the US in its prisons.
In Costa Rica, the Secretary of State will have a formal meeting with Tinoco, followed by a dialogue with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves, with a press conference scheduled.
"We are honored that the Secretary of State on his first international tour has included Costa Rica as one of the countries to visit and our region," Costa Rican Foreign Minister André Tinoco told the Voice of America before Rubio's arrival.
"This demonstrates the serious interest of the United States in maintaining and improving the lines of communication that we have had. Historically, Costa Rica has been an ally of the United States," he added.
Among the topics expected on the bilateral agenda will be those related to Costa Rican migration policies.
"Costa Rica is an important host country for the Nicaraguan, Cuban, and other nationalities," André mentioned. Other topics could be related to national, regional, and continental security, including cybersecurity.
Costa Rica, a historical ally of Washington, has expressed concern over the presence of Russian troops in neighboring Nicaragua, but also over the agreements that Managua has signed with the Kremlin.
China has also made its presence felt in the region, including Costa Rica and Nicaragua, with whom it has Free Trade Agreements.
From Costa Rica, Rubio will depart for Guatemala on a Central American tour that excludes Honduras and Nicaragua. The Dominican Republic will be his final stop.
Although he will not reach Managua, the Nicaraguan issue is expected to be on Rubio's agenda.
Nicaragua is experiencing one of the worst political crises in its recent history, since 2018 when protests erupted against the government of President Daniel Ortega, whom activists and governments accuse of limiting the civil and economic freedoms of Nicaraguans.
During the first administration of Republican President Donald Trump, the president labeled Nicaragua as an "unusual" threat to US foreign policy.