The Latin American studies researcher at the Institute for Strategic Studies of the United States Army War College, Evan Ellis, assured in an interview with This week.that the proximity of the Nicaraguan regime to Russia is an “escape” method from the international isolation imposed by the North American country and the European Union.
“I believe that Ortega’s objective is to escape isolation due to the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union and to show that he still has friends in other parts of the world because Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo are already very isolated. Although they have received economic aid (from Russia) it has been limited, with small amounts of buses, food and other aspects, because possibly Russia does not have the resources at the moment to help its allies when it is fighting so hard against Ukraine, ” expressed the expert in his appearance on the Sunday digital program
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Ellis maintains that there is a “cooling off” in military cooperation relations between the United States and Nicaragua, “relations have dropped substantially, there is not much of our military activities anymore.”
It highlights that the sanctions imposed on the regime during the Joe Biden administration have been deepened as a result of Ortega’s escalation of repression against the general public, the Catholic Church, the independent press, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and attacks on civilians.
The academic affirms that there is concern on the part of Daniel Ortega’s allies about losing the economic rapprochement with the US, which is the main commercial partner of the Central American country. “I understand that Nicaragua is under analysis to continue receiving investment and access to the market like the DR Cafta segment and is in fear of losing what remains of this access, it is something of concern for Ortega’s allies,” explained in the interview conducted by the journalist Elmer Rivas.
“Despite the fact that there is still something in the international market for Nicaragua and the support of organizations such as the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), it is not something that is going to save or achieve the development of the country,” Ellis added.
Russia is an old ally of Nicaragua that during the first Sandinista regime (1979-1990) provided Soviet weapons to the Nicaraguan Armed Forces.
Nicaragua is one of the few countries, along with Venezuela and the small island states of Nauru and Tuvalu, that have joined Russia in recognizing the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and that has received senior Russian officials since Moscow invaded Ukraine.
In addition, at the end of 2020 Nicaragua established a Consulate in Crimea, a Ukrainian territory annexed to Russia, which caused the rejection of Ukraine.
