Central America
Bukele and Argentine Minister Bullrich exchange their experiences on security
President Nayib Bukele received the Minister of Security of Argentina, Patricia Bullrich, in San Salvador, on Tuesday in a private meeting in which they exchanged their experiences on security and the fight against drug trafficking.
The Presidential House of El Salvador reported in an X message about the meeting that is part of a tour of the Central American country of the Argentine minister to “know the security methods” implemented by the Government of Bukele.
He added, without providing details, that “cooperation on security issues is getting closer and closer and we are sure that it will contribute to the well-being of both nations.”
For its part, the Ministry of Security of Argentina also indicated in X that Bullrich shared with the Salvadoran president about “the management that is being carried out in the fight against mafias and drug trafficking.”
In addition, he pointed out that the minister learned more about “the successful Salvadoran model” in reference to an emergency regime implemented to fight gangs.
He added that Bullrich also met with the vice president of El Salvador, Félix Ulloa, and thanked him for his collaboration in the visit made by the South American entourage.
In two days of visit to El Salvador, Bullrich visited the megaprison of the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (Cecot), met with the heads of the Police and the Attorney General’s Office.
Bullrich, the former electoral rival of the Argentine president, Javier Milei, congratulated Bukele on Tuesday through a video for “resturing peace and tranquility” to his country.
The administration of Milei and Bukele are close after the Argentine president assumed his position as president.
Milei was in El Salvador on June 1 in the context of Bukele’s inauguration for a second consecutive term despite being prohibited in the Constitution.
The security policy of the Bukele Government, which has broad popular support, has focused since 2022 on the suspension of constitutional guarantees and mass arrests of alleged gang members through an emergency regime.
This measure was approved by the Legislative Assembly at the request of the Executive in March 2022 after an escalation of murders that claimed the lives of more than 80 people in three days attributed to the gangs, but that journalistic investigations of the media El Faro indicate that it took place after the rupture of a pact between these gangs and the Government.
In fact, the United States Government has sanctioned officials of the Bukele Executive on accusations of coordinating meetings with gang members.
The aforementioned regime has left more than 80,000 arrests and more than 6,000 allegations of human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests and torture.
Humanitarian organizations have also reported more than 300 deaths of detainees, most of them with signs of violence.
Central America
El Salvador’s $9.663 billion budget for 2025 focuses on key sectors with no new debt issuance
The Finance and Special Budget Committee of the Legislative Assembly issued a favorable opinion today for the bill containing the 2025 General State Budget, which amounts to $9.663 billion. For the first time, this budget does not involve issuing debt for current expenditure.
The opinion was approved after hearing from officials from various government departments, who explained the allocation of public resources as well as what has been executed in 2024.
The priority areas will continue to be education, health, security, and defense, as they will receive 37% of the total budget, amounting to $3.609 billion. Education will receive $1.535 billion for projects under the “Crecer Juntos” (Grow Together) Law, the “Crecer y Aprender Juntos” (Grow and Learn Together) program, the “Mi Nueva Escuela” (My New School) program, the Digital Gap Reduction initiative, Quality and Coverage Improvement for the “Nacer, Crecer y Aprender” (Be Born, Grow and Learn) program, among others.
Health will receive $1.170 billion to strengthen the “Creciendo Saludables Juntos” (Growing Healthy Together) program and Integrated Health, improve infrastructure and equipment for hospitals and health centers, and other areas. Meanwhile, security and defense will receive $903.4 million.
An allocation of $1.700 billion will go to the Annual Public Investment Program.
Central America
Costa Rica takes step toward full membership in Pacific Alliance to Stimulate Trade and Jobs
The Government of Costa Rica expressed satisfaction after being accepted as a candidate to join the Pacific Alliance, a bloc in which the Central American country hopes to boost its economy and promote exports.
“We are convinced that with eventual membership in this trade bloc, we will promote the dynamization of our economy and the generation of jobs,” said Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Trade, Manuel Tovar, in a statement. The official emphasized that joining the Pacific Alliance would lead to increased and facilitated intra-regional trade and investment, while also allowing Costa Rica to project itself to the world as a bloc for the promotion of exports, investment, and the strengthening of regional value chains.
The Council of Ministers of the bloc, meeting in Santiago, Chile, approved Costa Rica’s candidacy for full membership, although a special protocol must still be developed in 2025 to finalize the Central American country’s accession.
The Costa Rican government explained that with the guidance of a roadmap created by the working group responsible for the matter, it will follow a process of exchange with the Pacific Alliance to agree on the Protocol in the coming year.
Central America
Honduras Seizes Over 26 Tons of Cocaine in 2024, Marking Major Drug-Fighting Achievements
Honduran authorities have seized more than 26 tons of cocaine so far in 2024, reported Friday the Secretary of Security, Gustavo Sánchez.
During a promotion ceremony for National Police officers in the city of La Paz, in western Honduras, Sánchez highlighted “the progress in the fight against organized crime in Honduras,” which includes “the seizure of more than 26 tons of cocaine, the destruction of over 11 million coca bushes, and the removal of more than 15,000 firearms from the streets.”
He added that these achievements have been reached with the support of the Armed Forces.
The police ceremony was led by Honduran President Xiomara Castro, who emphasized that during her administration, which began on January 27, 2022, “the National Police and Armed Forces have dealt significant blows to the drug state inherited from the previous regime, seizing the largest amount of drugs in recent years and destroying thousands of hectares of drug plantations and laboratories.”
Castro also stated that by the end of her term on January 27, 2026, “the police force will meet the United Nations’ recommended standards of 300 police officers for every 100,000 inhabitants.”
The Secretary of Security mentioned that with the new recruits joining the National Police, the total force has risen to 21,500, 25% of whom are women.
According to Sánchez, 2024 has seen the lowest rate of criminal violence in the last 20 years, although the perception from various sectors differs from official figures.
Human rights organizations report that the country experiences between ten and twelve homicides daily, despite a partial and temporary state of emergency declared in December 2022.
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