Q COSTARICA — The U.S. State Department chose not to back recent remarks from Costa Rican President Laura Fernández, who claimed that Nicaraguans have “the form of government they have chosen.” Instead, the department reaffirmed its stance that the regime led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo threatens regional security and violates human rights.
Washington’s message about Fernández’s comments is straightforward: “Rosario Murillo and Daniel Ortega, along with their allies, continue to undermine our national security interests in the region. Their role in facilitating illegal immigration, escalating hostile relations, and committing human rights abuses against Nicaraguans destabilizes our hemisphere, challenging efforts by the Trump administration to promote security and prosperity,” said a State Department official.
Fernández’s remarks stirred debate in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua. She claimed Nicaraguans have chosen their government freely—a view that clashes with reports from international organizations, UN experts, and democratic governments exposing electoral fraud, political persecution, and systematic human rights abuses under Ortega and Murillo.
While the State Department didn’t respond directly to each of the seven questions from 100% Noticias, Nicaragua’s leading online news outlet, the response clearly avoided endorsing the idea that the current regime reflects a genuine democratic choice by Nicaraguans.
Instead, Washington doubled down on accusations of repression, human rights violations, and actions that undermine regional stability.
Beyond the official statement, a U.S. source offered an off-the-record comment echoing Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s earlier remarks.
“As the Secretary said during his visit to San José, the Nicaraguan regime is an enemy of humanity,” the source told reporter Lucía Pineda Ubau, who last year questioned Rubio about U.S. actions against the regime during his first trip to Costa Rica, where he met with President Rodrigo Chaves.
This aligns with Rubio’s recent toughened rhetoric, which connects Ortega and Murillo’s government to severe human rights abuses, political repression, and alliances with governments Washington considers adversaries.
Costa Rica, a Key U.S. Ally
Fernández’s comments sparked controversy because Costa Rica has long been a primary refuge for Nicaraguan exiles and a vocal critic of Nicaragua’s human rights situation on the international stage.
Though the State Department didn’t explicitly say whether Fernández’s remarks caused political concern, its response made clear that the U.S. still views the Ortega-Murillo regime as a source of regional instability and a threat to democracy and security in the Americas.
The U.S. position also highlights a deep divide between Fernández’s view and Washington’s narrative about Nicaragua’s ongoing political and human rights crisis.