Costa Rican president seeks 'fraternal' ties with Nicaragua on trade, borders

Costa Rican President Laura Fernández expressed on Wednesday her interest in maintaining a "fraternal" relationship with Nicaragua, emphasizing cooperation in trade and border affairs. She also addressed recent statements about the neighboring country, asserting they were misrepresented to confuse the public.

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I am interested in having a fraternal relationship of trade with Nicaragua, an orderly border, where Nicaraguan people living in Costa Rica are regulated.

"I am interested in having a fraternal relationship of trade with Nicaragua, an orderly border, where Nicaraguan people living in Costa Rica are regulated," Fernández stated during her weekly press conference. She was responding to criticism following remarks made on June 13, 2026, to NTN24, where she commented on Nicaragua's government. Her comments, suggesting Nicaraguans have "the form of Government they have chosen to have," contrasted with international criticism of Daniel Ortega's administration regarding human rights violations and electoral fraud.

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my statements were “taken out of context” by the former presidents to “confuse” the population

Former Costa Rican presidents Luis Guillermo Solís and Laura Chinchilla, along with human rights organizations and Nicaraguan exiles, had criticized Fernández's remarks. However, Fernández defended herself on Wednesday, claiming her statements were "taken out of context" by former presidents aiming to "confuse" the population. She explained that during an interview, she cannot "rant against a neighboring country" with which Costa Rica shares a border crucial for regional trade.

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I cannot “rant against a neighboring country” with which I share a border through which a good part of the trade with Central America moves.

Fernández also clarified her diplomatic stance, noting that Costa Rica does not have diplomatic relations with Nicaragua, maintaining only consular ties. This decision dates back to 2018 when then-President Carlos Alvarado chose not to appoint an ambassador to Nicaragua due to the repression and human rights violations against opposition and protesters. Nicaragua has been in a political and social crisis since April 2018, exacerbated by the controversial 2021 elections that saw Daniel Ortega secure a fifth presidential term.

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we do not have diplomatic relations with Nicaragua, not even an embassy.