Daniel Ortega decreed a new entry of military troops and ships into Nicaraguan territory to carry out military exercises in the first half of next year for the purpose of “exchange and humanitarian assistance in cases of emergency.”
Through presidential decree number 20-2022 published in The Gazette This Friday, November 11, the regime establishes the entry of soldiers from Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, the United States and from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. The letter accredits Russian military personnel, ships and aircraft to participate in “training and exchange exercises in humanitarian aid operations, search missions, rescue rescue in emergency situations or natural disasters.”
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Last Wednesday, the Sandinista caucus introduced with “urgency” the decree that authorizes the entry and exchange of military personnel to the Central American country. According to the document, in 2023 around 80 soldiers from Russia and Venezuela will enter, both countries contain the largest number of military cooperation with Ortega.
With 78 votes in favor, zero against, 11 abstentions and 1 vote present, the National Assembly approved in June of this year that military personnel, ships and aircraft of the Russian armed forces enter and transit through Nicaragua. Neighboring countries, mainly Costa Rica, were “seriously concerned” about this decision by Ortega.
“We have serious concerns with Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega invited the Russian Army to send troops and equipment to Nicaragua. We have not had an Army since 1949, imagine how we feel, worried and with good reason, “revealed the Costa Rican president, Rodrigo Chaves, in an interview with the Voice of America.
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The Undersecretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States, Brian Nichols, also described the fact that the Nicaraguan president authorized the entry and establishment of the Russian armed forces into the territory as “provocation”.
The “exchange of experiences and training exercise in humanitarian aid operations” between the military forces of some countries with Nicaragua is frequent and has become relevant in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a military action that has had the support of the dictatorship from Nicaragua.
