Merkel and Alvarado discussed immigration, with the Costa Rican president calling for "international attention" to ensure democracy and freedom in Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Over the last two years, $1.3 billion was earmarked for Central America for US official development aid, most of it to these three countries, according to AFP.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned Costa Rica in a response to a reporter's question during a joint press conference that Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump held at the White House.
