Costa Rica and El Salvador have agreed to a bilateral security cooperation initiative aimed at dismantling transnational criminal networks and securing the future of Central America. This partnership, anchored by the Shield of the Americas (Escudo de las Américas) agreement, serves as a cornerstone for a safer, more integrated region. The agreement, signed in December 2025, is designed to synchronize intelligence, dismantle criminal networks, and foster a safer environment for regional development.
Architecture of cooperation
A key pillar of this partnership is the exchange of knowledge regarding high-security infrastructure. In January 2026, the Costa Rican government began construction on the High Containment and Organized Crime Center (CACCO) in Alajuela. This facility is directly informed by the security models implemented in El Salvador, focusing on specialized containment to neutralize the influence of drug trafficking and gang activity.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele emphasized the spirit of the cooperation, noting that the Shield is intended as an initial step where two countries help each other combat criminality. During his remarks, he underscored that the success of the model lies in the will to dismantle the financial and logistical structures of criminal groups, promising a robust exchange of tactics to secure critical ports and borders against illicit transit.
“We have a lot to learn from Costa Rica, but where we can support them is in the area of security, which is the problem they currently face,” President Bukele said during the signing of the Shield agreement in December 2025. “We can support you [Costa Rica] with our experience in combating crime, dismantling criminal structures, managing prison systems, and implementing the reforms necessary to eradicate crime.”
Strengthening institutional resilience
The partnership is built on the premise that modern threats require a comprehensive and modernized response. This includes significant legislative updates, such as Costa Rica’s recent reform of the Penal Code, which, for the first time, establishes contract killing (sicariato) as a distinct crime with sentences of up to 40 years — a move that aligns the country’s legal tools with the strategies seen in El Salvador.
Valeria Vásquez, associate director of Control Risks, a security and strategic intelligence company based in Mexico City, noted that the current landscape in Costa Rica requires “a comprehensive vision that combines different strategies, including institutional strengthening (such as the modernization of legal frameworks), improved police resources, intelligence, and territorial control.”
The Shield of the Americas ensures this cooperation extends beyond physical infrastructure into technical and operational domains. The agreement establishes a clear framework for sharing essential information and coordinating joint security operations to strike criminal networks that operate across borders.
A benchmark for regional safety
For Costa Rica, the alliance provides access to proven methodologies while strengthening its own democratic institutions. During his official visit to El Salvador in December 2025, to observe the country’s security transformation firsthand, President Rodrigo Chaves Robles noted in a press conference that the lessons regarding the “fundamental role of the state in protecting the lives of its citizens are deeply instructive.” He noted that such a prison facility is necessary to strengthen the justice system and ensure a judiciary that effectively serves the public interest.
President Bukele described the initiative as “a concrete fact” to face shared threats, stressing that security must be built from the ground up to ensure long-term stability and economic growth.
