Relationship dossier
Costa Rica
Israel
Relationship assessment
Trade cooperation alongside differences over diplomatic recognition and embassy location
Costa Rica toward Israel
+20Costa Rica concluded a free trade agreement with Israel, which entered into force in 2023. Costa Rica has also recognized Palestine and moved its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, reflecting differences over the status of Jerusalem.
Israel toward Costa Rica
+25Israel concluded a free trade agreement with Costa Rica, which entered into force in 2023, providing a concrete framework for bilateral economic cooperation.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship combines a bilateral trade framework with diplomatic differences involving Palestine and the location of Costa Rica’s embassy. These features support a generally cooperative but not especially close bilateral relationship.
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 Israel have maintained bilateral relations and concluded a free trade agreement, which entered into force in 2023. Costa Rica’s embassy moves between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and its recognition of Palestine reflect a more complex political relationship. The known evidence points to practical cooperation alongside diplomatic differences.
Areas of tension
- Costa Rica’s recognition of Palestine and its position on the status of Jerusalem.
Key developments
Costa Rica moved its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.
Costa Rica recognized the State of Palestine.
The Costa Rica–Israel free trade agreement entered into force.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and implementation of bilateral cooperation beyond the trade agreement are unclear.
- The extent of recent diplomatic coordination is unclear.