Costa Rica's president fires foreign minister over unauthorized meeting with Trump

Costa Rica's President Fernández has dismissed the country's foreign minister after he attended a meeting involving US President Donald Trump in New York without prior authorization.

The minister took part in what was described as a "Shield of the Americas" meeting, a gathering that reportedly included discussions involving Trump and regional counterparts. Costa Rican authorities said the minister's presence had not been approved by the president's office beforehand.

Diplomatic fallout

The dismissal underscores the sensitivity with which the Costa Rican government appears to be managing its diplomatic engagements with Washington, particularly meetings involving the US president that were not cleared through official channels.

Details about what was discussed at the "Shield of the Americas" meeting, and why the minister chose to attend without prior sign-off, have not been fully disclosed.

The Costa Rican government has not indicated who will succeed the dismissed minister or whether the episode will affect the country's broader relationship with the United States.

Costa Rica, which does not maintain a standing military, has traditionally sought to balance close ties with Washington against an independent foreign policy stance in the region.