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Costa Rica

A guard stands next to a Costa Rican flag during the inauguration ceremony of the country’s new president Rodrigo Chaves in San Jose on May 8, 2022.

Environment, Science & Technology

Military & Security

The ongoing situation in Costa Rica points to a future where threat actors' ability to coerce entire nation-states is just as concerning as their ability to destroy critical infrastructure.

When a Country Is Held Hostage: What to Make of Costa Rica's Ransomware Attack

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What does Costa Rica’s ransomware attack mean for the country and other governments?

Essential Geopolitics: Costa Rica Declares National Emergency

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks on stage during a campaign rally for his ruling Fidesz party in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, on April 1, 2022. 

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended RANE articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Kenya Presents Its National Budget, Hungary and Serbia Hold Elections

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Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (L) speaks with his Belarusian counterpart, Viktor Khrenin, on Feb. 3, 2022, in Minsk, Belarus. NATO expects 30,000 Russian troops to arrive in Belarus by the Feb. 10 start of the second phase of the "Allied Resolve" exercise, the most Russian troops present in the country since the Cold War era.

The Fight for Russia’s Borderlands

A look at what the coming week will bring -- and a list of recommended Stratfor articles from the week that was.

The Weekly Rundown: Blinken Visits Australia for a Quad Meeting, Russia and Belarus Begin Joint Exercises

Iran's Arc of Influence

The Ukraine Conflict

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People wait to be vaccinated at the COVID-19 vaccination center May 15, 2021, at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. After a slow start, France's COVID-19 vaccination program is gaining traction, and from May 31 vaccines will be available for all adults.

The Weekly Rundown: France Opens Vaccination to All Adults, an Israeli Election Deadline

COVID-19

2020 Second-Quarter Forecast

This geographically, culturally and politically diverse region is home to the United States, a nation whose geography helped it become the foremost economic and military power in the world

Americas

The Americas stretch from the Arctic Circle in Canada to the southern tip of Chile. This geographically, culturally and politically diverse region is home to the United States, a nation whose geography helped it become the foremost economic and military power in the world &mdash; an ascendance aided in part by bringing Mexico and Canada into its sphere of influence. Farther south, the nations of South America are like islands, separated by vast spaces of impenetrable mountains, rivers and jungles. Try though these countries may to integrate more closely, deeper ties such as those that characterize North America will prove elusive.

2020 Annual Forecast

2019 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

2019 Third-Quarter Forecast

2019 Second-Quarter Forecast

2019 Annual Forecast

2018 Fourth-Quarter Forecast

Barbados

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Dominican Republic

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The United States and 11 other countries -- Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Uruguay -- formally launched discussions on the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP), according to a Jan. 27 joint declaration by the 12 countries.

Americas: 12 Countries Launch U.S.-Led Talks to Boost Economic Ties

On the morning of May 31, a cyber attack targeted Costa Rica's hospital system, forcing the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) to shut down its digital record-keeping system, Reuters reported the same day.

Costa Rica: Cyber Attack Disrupts Hospitals, Clinics Across Country

Former World Bank economist Rodrigo Chaves won Costa Rica's runoff presidential vote, defeating former President Jose Maria Figueres, who won 47.1% of the vote, Deutsche Welle reported April 3.

Costa Rica: New President Will Face Fragmented Legislative Assembly

Cuba

Nicaragua

Venezuela

Social Issues

The U.S. and the Balance of Power

Crossing Borders

Approximately 200 Cubans protested near Costa Rica's embassy in Havana in response to Costa Rica's new requirements for Cubans and Nicaraguans to show transit visas if they pass through Costa Rica on their way to other countries, Reuters reported Feb. 21.

Costa Rica: Cubans Protest New Visa Requirements Near Costa Rican Embassy

Venezuela's Unraveling

Security Challenges in Latin America

Former Costa Rican President Jose Maria Figueres and former Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves made it to the runoff vote in Costa Rica's Feb. 6 general election with 27.3% and 16.6% of the vote, respectively, Reuters reported Feb. 7.

Costa Rica: General Election to See Presidential Runoff Vote

Costa Rican authorities arrested 28 people and conducted 57 raids, including the presidential palace and several other government institutions, in an effort to dismantle a massive scheme in which construction firms allegedly exchanged bribes for public contracts, Deutsche Welle reported June 14.



Costa Rica: Authorities Conduct Raids, Arrest 28 People in Corruption Crackdown

Costa Rica raised $235 million Jan. 25, with its first notes coming due in 2022 at 3.15%, second notes in 2026 at 7.7%, and third notes in 2031 at 9.19%. The news comes one business day after the country announced it had reached a staff-level deal with the International Monetary Fund to repay the $1.75 billion the country has taken out.

Costa Rica: Government Raises $235 Million in Debt Auction

With the votes from 91 percent of polling stations counted, Costa Rica's center-left candidate Carlos Alvarado effectively won the presidency by capturing 61 percent of the ballots in the April 1 runoff, Reuters reported.

Costa Rica: Center-Left Candidate Wins Presidential Election

South America: Split Decisions on Trade

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A view of the Register in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

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Covering an area that spans the entire width of the continent beginning at the Sahara Desert and ending at the southernmost tip of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to countless cultures, languages, religions, plants, animals and natural resources.

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Mir Castle in the Minsk region of Belarus.

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A horse grazes in front of Kara-Kul lake in the Chon-Ak-Suu valley, 300 kilometers southeast of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

SITUATION REPORTS

Americas: 12 Countries Launch U.S.-Led Talks to Boost Economic Ties

Costa Rica: Cyber Attack Disrupts Hospitals, Clinics Across Country

Costa Rica: New President Will Face Fragmented Legislative Assembly

Costa Rica: Cubans Protest New Visa Requirements Near Costa Rican Embassy

Costa Rica: General Election to See Presidential Runoff Vote

Costa Rica: Authorities Conduct Raids, Arrest 28 People in Corruption Crackdown

Costa Rica: Government Raises $235 Million in Debt Auction

Costa Rica: Center-Left Candidate Wins Presidential Election

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