Published on Tuesday, October 21, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Congress (Legislative Assembly) has authorized the arrival of the United States Navy (USN) ship USS Wichita (LCS-13), approving the request Monday with 40 votes in favor and five against.

The only votes against came from lawmakers with the left-wing political party Frente Amplio (FA), according to Congress.

The U.S. Embassy in San José requested permission Oct. 8 for the USS Wichita to dock at Limón Port, on the Caribbean Coast, from Oct. 22 to 26. The embassy also asked for the option to extend the ship’s stay through Nov. 3.

Congressional approval allows the ship’s crew to enter the country and take part in support missions for community projects in Limón Province.

The USS Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet’s area of operations in support of the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South), which works with U.S. partner nations.

According to JIATF South, the organization collaborates with regional allies to detect, monitor, and target illicit drug trafficking by air and sea within the Joint Operating Area. Its efforts help facilitate interdictions and arrests to reduce drug flow and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.

The U.S. Navy describes the USS Wichita as a Freedom-class littoral combat ship named after Wichita, the largest city in Kansas. The vessel has a displacement of 3,500 metric tons, measures 378 feet in length, has a beam of 57 feet, and a draft of 13 feet.

The ship’s arrival marks one of several U.S. missions carried out in Costa Rica. In February, Joint Task Force-Bravo (JTF-B), based at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, conducted a medical readiness training exercise (MEDRETE) in Cartago Province.

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What other areas of Costa Rica could benefit from U.S. military assistance missions? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com