Relationship dossier
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Relationship assessment
Regional integration and trade agreements provide a framework for Costa Rica–El Salvador cooperation.
Costa Rica toward El Salvador
+25Costa Rica participates with El Salvador in SICA and in the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, supporting regional political and economic cooperation.
El Salvador toward Costa Rica
+25El Salvador participates with Costa Rica in SICA and in the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, supporting regional political and economic cooperation.
Overall relationship
+25The relationship is shaped by regional integration and a shared trade framework, which offer durable channels for cooperation. The bilateral relationship is not known for sustained major confrontation, but the extent of direct cooperation outside regional arrangements is unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Costa Rica and El Salvador participate in regional integration through the Central American Integration System (SICA), and both are parties to the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. These arrangements provide a framework for regional political and economic cooperation. The relationship is not known for a major sustained bilateral confrontation, though the scope and implementation of direct cooperation are unclear.
Key developments
Costa Rica and El Salvador became parties to the Central America–Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement.
Costa Rica and El Salvador participate in the Central American Integration System (SICA).
Major uncertainties
- The extent of direct Costa Rican-Salvadoran cooperation under regional agreements is unclear.
- The scale and continuity of bilateral initiatives beyond regional frameworks are uncertain.