Defending Peace Requires New Tools  ⋆ The Costa Rica News

Costa Rica faces security challenges today that did not exist when the army was abolished in 1948. The country ended 2023 with 907 homicides, the highest number in its history, and more than 65% of these cases were linked to organized crime, according to official data. In provinces such as Limón, the homicide rate exceeds 40 per 100,000 inhabitants, a level that reflects the magnitude of the threat and the operational capacity of transnational criminal networks.

Given this reality, it is understandable that some sectors of society are considering new forms of international cooperation, including technical and strategic military assistance from allied nations. For many Costa Ricans, this discussion is not about abandoning the country’s peaceful identity, but about protecting it. Security is a fundamental human right: without security there is no social stability, no opportunities for young people, no tourism, no investment, and no future.

Organized crime erodes values, destroys communities, and threatens the very essence of Costa Rica’s democratic model. Faced with organizations that operate with unlimited resources, established maritime routes, and advanced technology, it is legitimate to consider whether the country needs specialized support in areas where a clear gap exists: intelligence, maritime surveillance, cargo interdiction, and the dismantling of criminal structures.

Military cooperation with the United States—understood as technical support rather than the militarization of the country—could strengthen the State’s capacity to regain territorial control and protect its population. There is also an economic argument: a safer country is more attractive for tourism and investment. Stability has historically been one of Costa Rica’s greatest assets, and recovering it is essential for national development.

However, any discussion about military cooperation must be conducted with transparency, technical rigor, and citizen participation. It requires reviewing legal frameworks, evaluating geopolitical implications, and clearly defining limits, scope, and oversight mechanisms. Security cannot be improvised or decided in haste; it requires long-term vision.

Costa Rica has the right to protect its people and its youth. It also has the responsibility to do so without losing the principles that have distinguished it worldwide. The question is not whether we should change our essence, but how to defend it in a context that has changed dramatically.

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