The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, authorized the departure to Russia of 50 Nicaraguan soldiers, on a rotating basis.
“To participate in an exchange exercise and military instruction and training in humanitarian aid operations,” he said.
Ortega also authorized the entry of troops, ships and aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces to participate in operations against illegal activities in the Caribbean Sea and the Nicaraguan Pacific Ocean. This according to presidential decree number 10-2022, published in the official gazette The Gazette.
Exchange army between Ortega and Russia
The president also authorized the entry to Nicaraguaon a rotating basis, of 80 Russian soldiers to participate with members of the Special Operations Command of the Nicaraguan Army.
“In exchange of experiences and training exercise in humanitarian aid operations,” he said.
Likewise, he authorized the entry of another 50 Russian soldiers to participate with members of the Naval Force, Air Force and the Broadcasting Corps. “In exchange of experiences and operational communication with ships and aircraft of the Nicaraguan Army in confrontation tasks and the fight against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime,” he said.
In total, Ortega authorized an undetermined number of Russian soldiers, ships and aircraft to enter Nicaragua from July 1 to December 31 of this year, according to the presidential decree.
Russians will sail in the Nicaraguan Caribbean and Pacific
The Russian military will participate in “training and exchange exercises in humanitarian aid operations, search, rescue and rescue missions in emergency situations or natural disasters.” In addition to participating in operations against illegal activities in the Nicaraguan Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, training the Army’s elite force and the transmission corps in operational communication.
“They will also participate in the exchange of experience and training in security tasks, planning of humanitarian aid exercises and disaster relief,” according to the presidential decree.
Ortega and Putin
Ortega is an ally of President Vladimir Putin, who has said that Nicaragua is a “very important” partner of Russia in Latin America.
Russia is an old ally of Nicaragua that during the first Sandinista regime (1979-1990) provided the Nicaraguan Armed Forces with Soviet weapons.
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 have welcomed 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.
Also from Cuba, United States, Mexico and Venezuela
In the same presidential decree, Ortega authorized for six months, starting next July, the entry into the national territory of personnel, ships and aircraft of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela. They will carry out the same functions as those of Russia.
He also authorized the entry of soldiers from Cuba and Mexico, who will participate with those from Nicaragua in “exchanges and work of a humanitarian nature.”
In the case of the United States Armed Forces, the Sandinista leader authorized the entry of military personnel, in a number that he did not specify. And unlike the other armed forces, their presence will be “previously planned and coordinated with the Nicaraguan Army.”
The goal, according to the president, is for the US military to dock at ports and land at national airports. In order to carry out “humanitarian aid operations, search, rescue and rescue missions in emergency situations or natural disasters, by air, sea and land.”
Ortega ordered the presidential decree to be sent to the National Assembly, where the ruling party has an absolute majority, for due ratification.