Pompeo will discuss Nicaraguan ‘authoritarianism crisis’ during visit to Costa Rica

The head of US diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, will discuss on Tuesday what he described as a “crisis of authoritarianism” in Nicaragua, when he meets in Costa Rica with President Carlos Alvarado.

Pompeo, who is touring Latin America and the Caribbean this week to strengthen relations with partner countries in the region, will arrive in San José after a visit to Colombia that was dominated by the situation in Venezuela and the efforts of opposition leader Juan Guaidó to propitiate the exit of the “illegitimate” president Nicolás Maduro, and call for new elections.

“I will go to Costa Rica, a great friend whose commitment to democracy has been clear for many decades, and we will discuss the crisis of authoritarianism on its own border with Nicaragua,” Pompeo announced Friday at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), before starting your journey.

The U.S. government is carrying out a campaign of diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions against Nicaragua to force the departure of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, elected in controversial elections in 2016 and who it accuses of corruption and serious human rights violations.

The Trump administration, which considers Nicaragua part of the “troika of tyranny” which also includes Cuba and Venezuela, is urging the conduct of “early, free and transparent” elections in the Central American country to overcome the political stalemate and revive the economy.