Nicaragua approves military training exercises with Russian forces

Americas, Europe, News June 16, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Nicaraguan congress renewed a decade-long decree on June 14 which would allow Russian forces to train in the Central American country.

The decree would accommodate 239 Russian soldiers in Nicaragua between July 1 and December 31, 2022, allowing them to patrol Nicaragua’s Caribbean and Pacific coasts. It also invites 80 Russian military advisors to join an in-country exercise with the Nicaraguan Army’s Special Operations Command in order “to exchange experiences and conduct training in humanitarian aid operations.”

Another 50 Russian military advisors will work with the Nicaraguan Navy, Air Force, and Communications Corps to “exchange experiences and assist with communication operations on ships and aircraft in their fight against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.” The decree also authorizes Russian ships and aircraft to enter Nicaraguan territorial waters and airspace.

Relations between U.S. and Nicaragua are at the lowest point in recent years. Nicaragua’s decision of having the Russian military over in the Central American region has received a severe backlash from the U.S. in light of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In order to mark its protest against the country’s increasing inclination towards Russia, the Biden administration did not invite Nicaragua’s leadership, along with Cuba and Venezuela, to the recently conducted Summit of America 2022, which was hosted by the U.S. in Los Angeles, California.

Former Sandinista guerrilla and current Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega has openly backed Russian President Vladimir Putin in his attack on Ukraine.

Russian media outlets had already started to report about the renewal of the decree one month ago. During the Summit of Americas 2022, President of Costa Rica Rodrigo Chavez expressed his concerns about the presence of Russian forces in the region by stating, “At this time, we have serious concerns with Nicaragua and about the news that President Daniel Ortega invited the Russian army to send troops and equipment. We have not had an army [in Costa Rica] since 1949, so imagine how we feel. We’re worried, and with good reason.”

It is unclear what Ortega expects from Putin in return for going against almost all of the Central and South American region to support Russia. This is not the first time that Ortega has chosen to stand with the Russian side, the two leaders have enjoyed a close relationship since 2008. He also supported Russia’s annexation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia despite being under massive U.S. pressure due to the fraud by the Sandinista National Liberation Front in the country’s municipal elections.

In 2014, Ortega again supported Russia when it annexed Crimea, he also established a consulate in Crimea when Nicaragua had absolutely no interests in the region. Vladimir Putin returned the favor by visiting Nicaragua later that year in 2014.

*^{Nicaraguan Army displays Russian-made BM-21 self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher systems in Managua, Nicaragua. (Image Credit: Christopher Treadway/Pinterest)}*

Russia funded a military training center to combat drug trafficking and plans to provide aid to strengthen and modernize the Sandinista Army. Russia also granted Nicaragua $26 million to address natural disasters. In 2016, Russia officially announced that it was sending Nicaragua an initial shipment of 20 T-72B tanks worth $80 million.

According to the reports from the Russian state-owned media, Kremlin has already supplied Nicaragua with 12 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft defense systems, two Mi-17V-5 helicopters, as well as a “shipment” of armored vehicles. Nicaragua has also ordered four patrol boats from Russia, at a cost of approximately $45 million. Other Russian aid to Nicaragua includes wheat shipments and buses to improve urban transportation in Managua.