President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met with President Rodrigo Chaves Robles of Costa Rica at the White House today to expand the partnership between the United States and Costa Rica.
During the meeting, the leaders committed to drive inclusive, equitable, and sustainable growth in the region through the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. Within this context, they reiterated their commitment to build more a resilient, diversified, secure, and sustainable global semiconductor value chain in the Americas, including with support from a recently announced partnership under the CHIPS Act. They also discussed ways to deepen our bilateral trade relationship, with a view to promoting sustainable and resilient supply chains.
The two leaders reaffirmed our commitment to advance the goals outlined in the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. In support of these efforts and to stabilize flows and offer opportunities to migrants and refugees, the Department of State is contributing more than $12 million through international organization partners in Costa Rica. President Biden also recognized Costa Rica’s continued cooperation in regional efforts to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration, including through the Secure Mobility Office, which aims to provide an alternative to migrants relying on smugglers by facilitating access to lawful pathways to the United States and other countries, reducing irregular migration. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security announced a Joint Statement of Cooperation establishing the framework to include Costa Rica among the Global Entry foreign country partners.
The Presidents also committed to deepen bilateral security cooperation to combat organized crime and the accompanying rise in violence and corruption. The United States, through the Department of State, will support new projects to strengthen Costa Rica’s law enforcement and justice sector institutions and combat transnational organized crime, narcotics trafficking, and corruption. Key projects will include up to $24 million in programmatic support for enhanced police and Coast Guard stations; strengthening Costa Rica’s National Police Academy; expanding the citizen security crime prevention program, Sembremos Seguridad; and increasing support to Costa Rica’s Air Surveillance Service.
President Biden and President Chaves also discussed bilateral cybersecurity cooperation, including progress in Costa Rica’s building of a national cybersecurity operations center, supported by U.S. cybersecurity assistance, as announced in March. President Biden also commended Costa Rica’s commitment to using trusted providers in its upcoming 5G tender and auctions.
Both Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to continuing people-to-people ties. In support of these efforts, the State Department will fund new programs for women entrepreneurs and access to higher education for African-descendant and indigenous students in the province of Limón, as well as English language programs across Costa Rica.
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