Far from the Gulf, the war’s geopolitical fallout is being felt in unexpected places. La Nación in Costa Rica published an extensive two-part investigation into the deteriorating relationship between San José and Beijing. The reporting identifies eight distinct episodes of diplomatic tension, virtually all of them shaped by the “US factor” — from executive decrees excluding Chinese firms from 5G development to Costa Rican officials labelling China’s regime “totalitarian.”
While not directly linked to the Iran conflict, the articles illustrate a broader pattern: as the US deepens its military commitments abroad, it simultaneously tightens its grip on allied nations’ foreign and economic policies, forcing smaller countries to pick sides.