There are strong links between its members (5,4)
'there are strong' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'links between its members' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'links' could be 'chain' (a chain is made up of links) and 'chain' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'gang' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chain gang that I've seen before include "Shackled workers?" , "penal group" , "Group of convicts coupled together while working" , "Convicts' work group" , "Linked prisoners" .)
'there' is the definition.
(I know that Costa Rica is a country)
'are strong links between its members' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'are' could be 'a' (short for 'are', historical unit of measurement) and 'a' is located in the answer.
'strong' could be 'str' (abbreviation for strong) and 'str' is found within the leftover letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for costa rica that I've seen before include "Central American republic" , "A Socratic country in Central America, oddly" , "Central American state" , "international team?" , "place in Central America" .)