La Nación, a major Costa Rican newspaper, reported on January 3, 2026, a series of developments related to political and military tensions in Venezuela and reactions from regional leaders.
In its first report, La Nación quoted Nicolás Maduro Guerra, deputy of the National Assembly and economist in Venezuela. On January 3, he called for social and political forces to mobilize, stating that the aim of recent attacks on the country is “apoderarse” los recursos.
Shortly after, La Nación published remarks from Álvaro Ramos, presidential candidate for Costa Rica’s Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN). On January 3, Ramos stated: “En Costa Rica aborrecemos las dictaduras y las posturas autoritarias, por ello hoy luchamos para no llegar a ese punto en nuestro país”.
Later that day, La Nación reported that Estados Unidos lanzó una serie de ataques aéreos contra Venezuela la madrugada de este 3 de enero, en una operación militar que incluyó bombardeos en Caracas y otras regiones del país.
The U.S. has previously expressed concerns over democratic backsliding and human rights violations in Venezuela. Tensions between the two countries have escalated periodically since at least 2019 when Washington recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president amid disputed elections and allegations against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. In recent years, international actors have debated sanctions and interventions as means to address the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.
Costa Rica has historically positioned itself as an advocate for democracy in Latin America. The PLN’s stance reflects longstanding national policies opposing authoritarian regimes across the region.
