Russian military presence in Nicaragua

“If American missile systems can reach almost Moscow from Ukrainian territory, it is time for Russia to deploy something more powerful near American cities.” Russian state television presenter Olga Skabeeva sounded triumphant when she announced last Thursday that Russian troops, ships and planes would be stationed in Nicaragua in the second half of the year, “certainly”, according to the moderator, for purposes humanitarian.

The news also alarmed neighboring Costa Rica in the south, which has not had its own armed forces since 1948. “Obviously, as a peaceful country that made the historic decision not to have an army, Costa Rica is concerned if a neighbor across the border begins to build military forces, “said President Rodrigo Chaves.

Flagrant violation of human rights

President Daniel Ortega and his wife

The US of course reacted immediately after this news. Speaking to DW-TV, Brian Nichols, who is in charge of Western Hemisphere affairs at the U.S. State Department, strongly condemned Nicaragua’s decision. “Nicaragua has called on Russian forces to maneuver, while Russia invades a neighboring country like Ukraine, where serious human rights violations are taking place. “We consider this a provocation by the Nicaraguan regime.” Nichols also hinted that there might be an answer from Washington.

“We demanded the release of political prisoners and respect for democratic norms and the avoidance of provocations against neighbors. But this went unnoticed. “It’s clear that we have to use all the tools at our disposal to express our disapproval,” Nichols told DW-TV at the US Summit in Los Angeles.

Following the bloody crackdown on mass protests in 2018 and the rigged November 2021 presidential election, Daniel Ortega and his wife, as well as Vice President Rosario Murillo, rule the small Central American country with an iron fist. Dozens of opposition leaders were arrested last year, including most of Ortega’s opponents at the time. The Ortega government has banned hundreds of non-governmental organizations on the grounds that they act on behalf of foreign states and their interests. Tens of thousands of Nicaraguan people have fled the country in recent years due to state repression and lack of perspective.

The real danger?

The army in Nicaragua prepares to participate in the military parade

American analysts, such as Stephen Blank of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, fear that Russia may be tempted to expand its military presence in Nicaragua precisely because of the war in Ukraine. Temporary permission to anchor Russian warships in Nicaraguan ports could easily become a permanent naval base. This is exactly what happened in Syria, Sudan and Myanmar, writes Blank in an article for the website “The Hill”, reports DW. The US government must absolutely react, according to Eastern European expert Stephen Blank.

Carolina Jiménez, president of the Washington Office for Latin America (WOLA), a non-governmental organization that focuses on human rights, also sees the need for action in an interview with DW: “The Ortega Decree is an unnecessary provocation. “It is in fact a not-so-harmful permit that is periodically renewed, but that is presented in a new context, of the war in Ukraine”, says Carolina Jiménez.

According to Jiménez, the concerns of Costa Rica and other neighboring countries are absolutely justified. According to her, these countries should not always look to Washington in such situations, but should take action themselves. It explicitly includes Mexico, whose president Lopez Obrador recently spoke out in favor of Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba attending the US summit in the United States: “Latin America needs to activate its diplomatic channels. “We must not forget that the political crisis in Nicaragua has an impact on Mexico as well, which is accepting more and more asylum seekers from Nicaragua, who are leaving a country devastated by human rights abuses.” WOLA.

On Monday, the US State Department issued a press release calling for the immediate release of more than 180 political prisoners in Nicaragua and announcing new visa restrictions for 93 government-linked individuals who accused them of “undermining democracy in Nicaragua.” DW

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