The highest military authorities of Cuba and Nicaragua held a meeting in Havana with the objective of strengthening cooperation between armies respective.
Julio César Avilés Castillo, commander in chief of the Nicaraguan Army, exchanged with his Cuban counterpart, army general Álvaro López Miera, as part of the work agenda being deployed these days by the senior military of the Central American nation on the island.
| Nicaragua and Cuba, “a brotherhood of blood and steel.”
The Commander in Chief of the Military Forces of the Nicaraguan Army visits the Island.
https://t.co/a4Tz4juvwc pic.twitter.com/t2He0GE3ix
— Granma Newspaper (@Granma_Digital) October 9, 2025
The Efe agency highlights that Avilés Castillo plans to formalize the bilateral collaboration mechanism in defense, security and military-technical cooperation.
Through this mechanism, the Nicaraguan military will emphasize “the importance of maintaining high levels of trust and coordinated work processes that allow strengthening the solid relationships that unite the Nicaraguan Army and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cubawhich contribute from their own capabilities to the security and stability of the region, through the mutual respect of the States and the permanent search for peace.”
The media specifies that during the meeting of the senior military leaders, a work agenda was organized to be carried out in the coming days that includes visits to military units, and the tribute to the national heroes of Cuba.
friendly armies
Prior to his arrival in Havana, the highest command of the Nicaraguan Army made similar visits to the People’s Republic of China and Russia in order to strengthen ties with both countries.
Avilés Castillo, who has held the position since 2010, expressed at the conclusion of that journey that “it is evident that China and Russia, together with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, make efforts in favor of global peace.”
In turn, he called for “respect for international law and strengthening existing international military cooperation mechanisms,” and condemned “actions by the European Union and the United States that promote destabilization, aggression and try to violate the security of those of us who defend our right to be sovereign and independent.”
He also assured that “decent, free, sovereign countries, such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela” continue “to be threatened and attacked” because they try to “have prosperity and well-being with dignity and social justice for the people.”
While passing through Russia, the senior Nicaraguan military officer met with the Russian Minister of Defense, Andréi Beloúsov, with whom he discussed cooperation between the defense ministries of both countries, as well as other security aspects.
Due to his position, Avilés Castillo is one of the Nicaraguan officials subject to sanctions by the United States, which accuses him of allowing repression against protesters opposed to the Sandinista Government within the framework of the social outbreak that began in April 2018.
Cuba strengthens ties with its allies
Strengthening collaboration with allied countries has been a priority for the Cuban military authorities in recent times.
Chief of the Cuban General Staff visits Belarus to promote military cooperation
At the beginning of this week the chief of the General Staff of the Cuban Armed ForcesRoberto Legrá Sotolongo, began an official visit to Belarus in order to expand military collaboration between both countries.
Valeri Revenko, head of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, confirmed on the social network “practical measures” for the training of Cuban military personnelincorporating “the experience of contemporary armed conflicts.”
Legrá Sotolongo’s visit coincides with an international context marked by complaints about the alleged participation of Cuban citizens in the ukrainian warfighting in the Russian ranks
