Costa Rica’s Election Exposes the True Cost of Narcotrafficking-Driven Insecurity

As Costa Rica holds its general elections, the nation stands at a crossroads, grappling with a surge in violent crime fueled by narcotrafficking gangs. What should be a celebration of democracy is instead overshadowed by insecurity threatening the country’s stability—echoing challenges that ripple beyond its borders and strike directly at American interests in regional security. Why Is Insecurity the Defining Issue of Costa Rica’s Elections? The rise in homicide rates linked to organized crime confronts every voter with a stark reality: lawlessness is gaining ground in what was known as Latin America’s most stable democracy. This decline didn’t happen overnight....