Costa Rica's Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar Fired Over Trump Security Meeting
Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez dismissed Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar on Thursday after he participated in a New York security meeting convened by US President Donald Trump without her knowledge. The gathering, part of Trump's anti-cartel "Shield of the Americas" alliance, was held Tuesday alongside the UN General Assembly. Fernandez said she should have represented Costa Rica herself and described Tovar's failure to consult her as causing "great strategic damage." According to the government, Tovar attended "without giving prior notice or informing" the president, a conservative ally of Trump, of his participation.
Key facts
- Costa Rica's President Laura Fernandez fired Foreign Minister Manuel Tovar on Thursday
- Tovar attended a New York meeting on Latin America's security led by US President Donald Trump
- The meeting was part of Trump's anti-cartel "Shield of the Americas" alliance
- The meeting took place Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly
- Fernandez said she should have been the one to attend the meeting
- Fernandez said Tovar's failure to consult her caused "great strategic damage"
- Costa Rica's government said Tovar attended "without giving prior notice or informing" the president
- Fernandez is described as a conservative Trump ally
Entities
Artists
- Manuel Tovar
- Laura Fernandez
- Donald Trump
Institutions
- Shield of the Americas
- United Nations General Assembly
- South China Morning Post
Locations
- Costa Rica
- New York
- United States