The president of Costa Rica, Laura Fernández, has decided to remove the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Manuel Tovar, after he attended a meeting of the Shield of the Americas without prior notification, an alliance in security matters promoted by the United States and in which 14 other countries participate, and where the U.S. president, Donald Trump, was present.
"Tovar attended the session without prior notice or informing the president of the republic of his participation. This negligence did not allow the president to participate in the session, which caused great strategic damage," states the statement.
The document emphasizes that the Shield of the Americas platform —of which Costa Rica is one of the founding States— constitutes a political and strategic forum considered "fundamental" in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, "which is a priority for the president."
Tovar, in a statement released through social media, has indicated that he faces this situation "with much peace" and has expressed his gratitude to Fernández for the opportunity to have served the Costa Rican citizens. The now former minister has emphasized that "he will always be on the side of the just causes of Costa Ricans and the international community."
The group's meeting took place last Tuesday, while Fernández was on an official visit to Colombia to meet with her Colombian counterpart, Abelardo De la Espriella, with the aim of coordinating joint strategies "in security matters and the fight against drug trafficking."
In statements to the Costa Rican television network Trivision, Fernández has acknowledged that "it is a difficult decision to make," but has insisted that the fact of not communicating the summons to him or allowing him to decide on his representation is something that "cannot be overlooked."
According to the statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica after the summit, the meeting "addressed the axes of defense of democracy, as well as the different dimensions of regional security, including the fight against drug trafficking, illegal mining, and other threats that affect hemispheric stability" and included the presence of leaders from countries such as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay, among others.
After the dismissal of Tovar, Fernández has appointed Indiana Trejos —current head of Foreign Trade— as interim Minister of Foreign Affairs. Trejos will formally take over the portfolio when she returns from the United Nations General Assembly, which is held in New York.