Issue Feb 18-24 2026: Costa Rica’s Minister of Security, Mario Zamora, has said that illegal miners are extracting gold in that country to process and sell in Nicaragua, and has urged officials in the neighboring nation to increase vigilance along their shared border near the San Juan River, the site of an important “smuggling route.”

Issue Feb 18-24 2026: Legislation levying a 30% tariff on products imported from Ecuador is ready and awaiting the signature of Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Products that will be affected by the tariff include 23 items that are subdivided into 72 subheadings, such as rice, fats and oils, bananas, and other goods.

Issue Feb 18-24 2026: The Organization of American States (OAS) stated that it will closely monitor the process of renewing the high courts in Guatemala, after warning of attempts to manipulate the justice system to interfere in the recent judges’ union elections.