Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves has praised El Salvador’s transformation into one of the safest countries in the world, stating that it is now safer than Switzerland. Speaking at a press conference ahead of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s official visit to Costa Rica, Chaves announced that Bukele would be awarded the prestigious Juan Mora Fernández National Order, Grand Cross Gold Plate for his achievements in improving public security.
«Why are we giving it to him? Imagine that El Salvador was once one of the most violent and unsafe places on Earth, with murder rates that were terrifying,» Chaves said. «Now, El Salvador is one of the safest countries in the world—safer than Switzerland, I understand, but I never imagined I would hear or see that.»
The Juan Mora Fernández decoration is one of Costa Rica’s highest honors, awarded exclusively to foreigners for distinguished service to the country. It is named after Juan Mora Fernández, Costa Rica’s first head of state and the man credited with laying the foundations for the country’s independence and early development. Previous recipients of the award include the Kings of Spain, Juan Carlos I and Sofia, as well as prominent diplomats.
Chaves explained that the decision to honor Bukele was based on the Salvadoran president’s success in reducing violence and transforming the country’s security landscape. «El Salvador’s methods: that is debatable,» Chaves acknowledged, referring to international discussions about the controversial measures Bukele’s government has taken. «But here in Costa Rica, we believe that the vast majority of our people admire the achievements of El Salvador in terms of security. We are giving this award to President Bukele for his contributions to making that country safer.»
Under Bukele’s leadership, El Salvador has seen a dramatic drop in violent crime, particularly homicides. Prior to his presidency, the country had one of the highest murder rates in the world. However, since 2015, homicide rates have steadily declined, with the most significant reductions occurring after Bukele’s government enacted an «exceptional regime» to tackle gang violence. This regime, which was implemented following a massacre attributed to gang members in 2022, has contributed to a sharp decline in daily homicides—from 18 per day in 2015 to fewer than one per day in 2023.
The exceptional regime has been extended by El Salvador’s legislative assembly for the 32nd time, ensuring continued security measures for the country’s citizens.
Despite international criticism of some of Bukele’s policies, particularly concerning human rights, Chaves emphasized the importance of security for both countries. «The governments of Costa Rica and El Salvador are united in their belief that our people deserve peace and security,» he said.
Bukele’s official visit to Costa Rica will include a meeting with President Chaves on November 11 at the Costa Rican Foreign Ministry, where the Salvadoran leader will formally receive the Juan Mora Fernández decoration. The award underscores Costa Rica’s recognition of El Salvador’s significant progress in the fight against crime and its role in regional stability.
As both countries continue to build on their diplomatic and security cooperation, the recognition of Bukele’s leadership highlights the evolving relationship between the two Central American nations.