U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed key regional issues, including international aid, migration, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and China's growing influence among other topics, during his brief visit to Costa Rica on Tuesday.

Rubio arrived at 7:15 a.m. at Juan Santamaría International Airport in Alajuela, where he was welcomed by Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo André, U.S. Embassy representatives, and other government officials.

Later, at the Presidential House, located in Zapote, San José, Rubio met with President Rodrigo Chaves-Robles.

“I’m extremely pleased that we’ve come to fundamental agreements for our mutual interests,” President Chaves said at a press conference after the meeting. “The partnership between the U.S. and Costa Rica is strong, and under your leadership and that of President Trump, it will only grow stronger. It’s dark before the light, but we are aligned on these very important issues.”

Regarding 5G technology and cybersecurity, Rubio emphasized Costa Rica's right to block companies that pose national security or economic risks. 

“This country faces over 100 million cyberattacks a year. That is unacceptable,” Rubio stated. He assured continued U.S. support in enhancing Costa Rica’s cybersecurity measures. “We will work together to explore consequences for these attacks and how we can assist in holding accountable officials who are undermining national interests. Anything we can do to help, we will.”

Rubio noted that 5G is crucial for future industry growth, but stressed the need for secure networks. He raised concerns over Chinese-backed companies involved in 5G development, citing their potential threat to national security through economic coercion and sabotage. "China is a regime that has repeatedly used these tactics. They must be confronted responsibly as 5G becomes essential for economic development."

On national security, Rubio reaffirmed U.S. cooperation with Costa Rica in combating drug trafficking and organized crime, especially in the fight against terrorist groups using Costa Rica as a transit point. 

"We’ll investigate how we can bring in the DEA and FBI to support your security teams here in investigating drug cases," he said. "These drugs are bound for the U.S. and other destinations."

Regarding migration, Rubio highlighted Costa Rica’s role as both a transit and destination country due to its job opportunities. He stressed U.S. efforts to identify and prevent migrants with ties to terrorism from entering the region, particularly those heading to the United States. 

 

“We’ll continue working with advanced tools like biometrics to identify these individuals and protect Costa Rica, the U.S., and the entire region,” he said.


Rubio also addressed U.S. foreign policy, calling for a shift toward stronger alliances. “It’s better to be a friend than an enemy; better to be an ally than a troublemaker,” he stated. “Unfortunately, that hasn’t always been the case in past administrations.”


He added that, at times, being an enemy of the U.S. seemed to yield better results than being a friend. “If you’re a friend, you’re overlooked, ignored, and even criticized. But if you’re an enemy, they want to come to the table and negotiate.”


Rubio emphasized President Trump’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with U.S. allies, highlighting Costa Rica as a model for other countries.   "In the meantime, as I said in my words, there are more U.S. citizens living here than Costa Ricans living in the U.S., which is an example of what happens when a country does things right as opposed to those countries," he noted.


“The regimes in Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba are enemies of humanity and have created the migration crisis,” Rubio said. “If it weren’t for these regimes, we wouldn’t have the migration crisis in the hemisphere. They’ve created it through systems that simply don’t work.”


Before departing for Guatemala later that day, Rubio also met with U.S. Embassy staff and their families. 


Rubio was born in Miami, Florida in 1971. He is the son of Cuban immigrants. He served as a City Commissioner in West Miami and as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. In 2010, he won a seat in the U.S. Senate. He served as a U.S. Senator until 2025.  He was sworn in as the 72nd Secretary of State on January 21, 2025.

Rubio was the fourth U.S. Secretary of State to visit Costa Rica in the past 15 years. 

In June 2021, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado to reaffirm U.S. support for the country’s environmental initiatives. 

In January 2020, former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo visited Costa Rica to discuss the situations in Venezuela and Nicaragua, the rising flow of migrants, and efforts to combat drug trafficking with President Carlos Alvarado. 

In March 2010, Hillary Clinton, then Secretary of State, met with President Laura Chinchilla to discuss drug trafficking and the development of Costa Rica’s aerospace industry. 

Rubio’s visit adds to a series of recent high-level U.S. delegations to Costa Rica. Representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently visited to address medical device regulations in the country. 

Recently, U.S. Ambassador Dr. Cynthia A. Telles released a farewell message as she stepped down from her post. The move is part of the customary transition in diplomatic roles ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the President of the United States.

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