Press Release
Friday, February 3, 2023
U.S. Army Gen. Laura Richardson, commander of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), will arrive in San Jose, Monday, February 6 for her first official visit to the country.
Richardson’s four-day agenda in Costa Rica includes scheduled meetings with President Rodrigo Chaves, Minister of Public Security Jorge Luis Torres and other government leaders focused on the longstanding bilateral security partnership between the United States and Costa Rica, and collaborative efforts to address security threats and challenges of mutual concern.
Security cooperation between the U.S. and Costa Rica dates back decades and focuses on shared interests, including disaster preparedness; cyber security; promoting respect for human rights; the expanded integration of women in security, peace, and defense missions; and international efforts to counter transnational criminal organizations.
During her stay, Richardson will also join Minister Torres in co-hosting this year’s Central American Security Conference (CENTSEC), where defense and public-security leaders from across the Americas and Europe will exchange ideas, experiences, and perspectives on regional collaboration to address security challenges in the 21st century.
This year’s CENTSEC will include plenary sessions on critical infrastructure protection in the cyber domain; climate change and environmental security; and human rights.
The conference, sponsored annually by SOUTHCOM, was last hosted by Costa Rica in 2016.
