Trump nominee to Costa Rica vows to prioritize U.S. citizens’ safety as China influence and drug trafficking rise

Mindy Hildebrand, President Trump’s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Costa Rica, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee she would make the safety of U.S. citizens in Costa Rica her highest priority and work to “enhance the bilateral relationship to deliver America‑first wins for the American people.”

The nomination matters because senators said Costa Rica is a pivotal U.S. partner in Central America facing two strategic challenges: expanding Chinese economic influence and growing narcotics trafficking that has made Costa Rica a transshipment point for cocaine and a potential hub for synthetic drugs.

Hildebrand, a Houston philanthropist and business owner who said her foundation has awarded more than $390 million in grants and who described herself as a partner in businesses that employ “over 6,000 hardworking Americans,” told the committee she would work with Costa Rican counterparts in government and the private sector to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s economic coercion and to support trusted vendors for critical infrastructure, including 5G technology. "Chinese expansion into the Western Hemisphere is a threat to national security and to our prosperity," she said in response to questioning by Senator Ted Cruz.

Senators asked how she would support Costa Rica in disrupting trafficking networks. Senator Mike Ricketts noted Treasury Department sanctions this summer targeting Costa Rican nationals and entities tied to narcotics trafficking and money laundering and asked what steps the U.S. and embassy would take to disrupt networks. Hildebrand replied that the U.S. embassy already “works closely with the national and border police in Costa Rica to counter these efforts” and said she would “continue that strong partnership.”

Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen and others pressed nominees about China’s expanding footprint in Central America; Shaheen asked Hildebrand to explain how the United States can help other Central American countries emulate Costa Rica’s stability and democratic institutions. Hildebrand said she would explore additional trade and education ties and “work with this committee to explore those reasons” Costa Rica stands out in the region.

Hildebrand also said, if confirmed, she would protect about 160,000 U.S. citizens who live in Costa Rica and the more than 1.5 million Americans who visit annually, calling their safety “my highest priority.”

The hearing provided no committee vote or formal action on the nomination; senators said documents and letters related to the nominees would be entered into the record and the committee would keep the record open for additional questions until the date announced by the chair.

If confirmed, Hildebrand would face two concrete operational priorities cited repeatedly at the hearing: sustaining security cooperation with Costa Rican law enforcement to counter organized crime and working with Costa Rican officials and businesses to reduce vulnerabilities to Chinese economic leverage.

Speakers quoted in this article addressed these topics during the public hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.