Costa Rica’s foreign minister fired for attending Trump meeting without telling president

Costa Rica's President Laura Fernandez dismissed her foreign minister, Manuel Tovar, on Thursday for attending a meeting on Latin America's security led by US President Donald Trump without informing her. The foreign minister had participated in the meeting of Trump's anti-cartel "Shield of the Americas" alliance in New York on Tuesday, unbeknownst to the president.

Fernandez expressed disappointment, stating that Tovar's absence of prior consultation caused "great strategic damage" to Costa Rica. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, saw 15 coalition members sign a joint statement aiming to impose asset freezes, visa restrictions, and seek criminal liability against members and supporters of 24 criminal organizations.

During the gathering, Trump referred to drug cartels as "the Isis of the western hemisphere". Costa Rica, known for its tourism industry and regional stability, has recently faced an increase in drug-related violence. Tovar, a staunch Trump supporter, declined to comment on his dismissal, merely thanking Fernandez for including him in her cabinet, which he has held since May of last year.