Q COSTARICA — Considering them a threat to national security, the government of Rodrigo Chaves has declared Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthi movement in Yemen, among others, as terrorist organizations.
With this declaration, their members will be barred from entering Costa Rica, and the entry of their illicit assets into Costa Rican soil will be investigated.
The Minister of Security, Mario Zamora, announced the decision on Wednesday during the press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting.
“These four organizations pose risks to international security, and Costa Rica is taking proactive measures to ensure that our border security barriers and immigration systems protect the country from these threats,” the minister stated.
The designated groups are considered declared enemies of the United States and the State of Israel, which adds geopolitical weight to the measure adopted by Costa Rica.
“At the United Nations level, there are organizations dedicated to this, and there are groups designated as terrorists. At the national level, it corresponds to the Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Presidencial (National Presidential Security Council), and from the Cancilleria (Foreign Ministry) we coordinate the international issue with allied countries with whom we share the relevant information,” said Foreign Minister Arnoldo André.
Countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism face severe economic, financial, and diplomatic restrictions, such as arms export bans, suspension of economic aid, blocking of international loans, and limitations on access to the global financial system.