No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsLatin AmericaUS Pentagon chief headed to Mexico, Guatemala

US Pentagon chief headed to Mexico, Guatemala

WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel will depart Wednesday for Mexico City to hold talks with his counterparts from Canada and Mexico aimed at bolstering Washington’s security ties to its neighbors.

Hagel’s three-day trip to Mexico and Guatemala will underline “America’s commitment to this region,” spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters.

The visit follows a Pentagon announcement for a planned sale of 18 Apache helicopters to Mexico.

Kirby said the helicopters would “improve the security of a strong, strategic partner in Mexico, both in terms of combating organized crime and drug trafficking.”

The Pentagon has informed the U.S. Congress of the planned arms sale, officials said.

Hagel was due to begin his trip with a stop at Ft. Bragg, in North Carolina, to meet with special operations troops who lead training missions in Latin American countries.

Paul J. Richards/AFP
Paul J. Richards/AFP

He will then fly to Mexico City to attend the second gathering of defense chiefs from the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“This ministerial, which first met in 2012, provides an opportunity to expand our bilateral defense ties with Canada and with Mexico,” as the countries “confront shared security challenges,” Kirby said.

While in Mexico, Hagel will lay a wreath at the monument for the 201st Mexican Air Force Squadron that fought alongside U.S. forces in the Pacific campaign during World War II, he said.

After Mexico, Hagel will travel to Guatemala, in the first visit to the country by a U.S. defense secretary since 2005.

Hagel was due to visit U.S. troops carrying out medical training with the Guatemalan military, Kirby said.

Trending Now

Costa Rica to Launch Electric Air Taxis for Sustainable Travel in Guanacaste

Costa Rica is poised to revolutionize its transportation landscape with the introduction of electric air taxis, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional ground travel...

Costa Rican Court Orders Release of Migrants Deported Under Trump Deal

A court on Tuesday ordered Costa Rican authorities to release foreign migrants who had been detained in a shelter after being deported under an...

Hondurans March to Mark 2009 Coup as Election Battle Heats Up

Thousands of government supporters marched Saturday in the capital of Honduras to commemorate the anniversary of the 2009 coup that ousted then-leftist President Manuel...

Fishing, Wildlife, and History in Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado

Costa Rica’s Barra del Colorado is a magical and charming town. It’s one of the country’s hidden gems, best known for its world-class sport...

Costa Rica and U.S. Strengthen Border Scans and Biometric Cooperation

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem met Wednesday with Honduran President Xiomara Castro to discuss security and migration, following her offer in Costa...

Life After MS-13 in El Salvador as Residents Seek a Fragile Peace

Esperanza Martinez lost three relatives who were murdered and saw numerous bodies left in the streets of her neighborhood, a former stronghold of the...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica