Costa Rica is attempting to create an armed conflict with neighboring Nicaragua, Nicaraguan Army spokesman Juan Morales said citing counterintelligence information.
Relations between the two countries became tense in November when the Nicaraguan military began widening the waterway in the San Juan River Delta and began establishing a military camp on the disputed Calero Island, in particular a small island called Harbor Head to the east of Calero.
"According to our counterintelligence information, the Costa Rican side is planning to attack [Nicaraguan] security forces guarding the border. In order to do this, [Costa Rica] has trained a special group which will be dressed in Nicaraguan military uniforms. In this way the Costa Rican government is attempting to blame hostilities on Nicaragua," Morales said on Monday.
The Costa Rican government officially announced earlier that it was building additional helicopter pads and roads on the border with Nicaragua.
The territorial dispute between the two Latin American countries dates back to 1850. In 1858, the Canas-Jerez Treaty established that Nicaragua is the rightful owner of the San Juan River, but Costa Rica retained the right to use it for commercial navigation.
Calero Island with a total land area of 151.6 square kilometers (58.5 sq. miles) is internationally recognized as Costa Rican territory.
Costa Rica does not have an army.
MEXICO CITY, January 11 (RIA Novosti)
