Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez has dismissed Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar following his attendance at a United States-led regional security summit with President Donald Trump in New York. The dismissal stems from Tovar’s participation in the “Shield of the Americas” meeting without prior notification to President Fernandez, an omission the government stated prevented her own attendance and caused significant strategic harm to Costa Rica’s interests.

Fernandez asserted that she should have been the one to represent the nation at the security gathering. The “Shield of the Americas” coalition, as described by the government, focuses on combating drug trafficking and organised crime throughout the region. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Costa Rica’s government, Tovar attended the summit “without giving prior notice or informing” President Fernandez. Several right-wing Latin American leaders also participated in the event. The coalition members subsequently issued a joint statement outlining their commitment to implementing asset freezes, visa restrictions, and pursuing criminal liability against members and supporters of 24 specified criminal organisations.

This meeting represented the Trump administration’s latest initiative to garner regional support for a more assertive strategy against drug trafficking. Since returning to office, Trump has classified cartels as foreign “terrorist” organisations and authorized numerous strikes against vessels suspected of transporting narcotics to the United States.

Costa Rica, a nation known for its stability and tourism, is currently contending with an escalation in drug-related violence. The country has long been considered a stable presence in Latin America.

Manuel Tovar offered no direct comment on his dismissal, instead expressing gratitude to President Fernandez for his cabinet appointment. Indiana Trejos, currently serving as Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Trade, has been appointed as the acting foreign minister and will assume the role upon her return from the UN General Assembly.

The incident highlights potential diplomatic friction and strategic disagreements within the Costa Rican government regarding international engagement, particularly concerning security initiatives involving the United States and its allies.

Further details regarding the specific strategic implications for Costa Rica or the precise nature of the “major strategic harm” cited by the government were not immediately elaborated upon, leaving room for future clarification on the full impact of the unapproved meeting.