President Luis Guillermo Solís made it very clear that the boats, planes, radars, and other instruments donated to Costa Rica by the United States do not represent a response to the Nicaraguan military purchase from Russia.
The president said that the cooperation from the American country had been planned for 18 months, but it wasn’t until Monday that it came into force during his visit to the White House.
Solís strongly denies any connection with a possible response to Daniel Ortega’s purchase of war tanks from the Russians.
The equipment being donated is police equipment, not artillery ships. We are not receiving weapons, battle tanks or fighter,”
stressed the President.
The C-145 aircraft will be used for cargo, whereas the ships will be used to fight drug smuggling at sea, and illegal fishing. In addition, the aircraft King Air will also serve to patrol against organized crime.
Another aspect clarified by the State was that Costa Rica is not receiving any military assistance from the United States and that if he did not informed about the donation earlier was purely due to unfinished technical aspects