The Russian press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, officially declared that the United States is an «enemy country» due to its support of Ukraine. This declaration, according to critics of the Ortega regime, escalates tensions between the two nations, highlighting the close relationship between Vladimir Putin’s regime and Daniel Ortega’s dictatorship.
«Now we are an enemy country to them, just as they are to us,» Peskov stated during a press conference on Tuesday, June 11.
The climate of tension has been exacerbated by the visit of Russian war ships to Cuba and Venezuela between June 12 and 17. Various critics pointed out that Ortega is not hosting the Russian flotilla because Nicaragua has taken a restrained position or due to a lack of willingness to receive the ships, but rather because it lacks deep waters ports in the Caribbean.
This situation could lead to a war beyond Ukraine
A Nicaraguan political analyst, who spoke with LA PRENSA under the condition of anonymity, assessed that this could be a prelude to war beyond the eastern European territory; with Nicaragua being offered by Daniel Ortega’s dictatorship as a territory favorable to Russian interests in the region. Additionally, Nicaragua officially has a strategic alliance with Russia in the field of security, which includes an agreement to train the Nicaraguan police, and includes Russian security experts, Russian-owned infrastructure in the country, and various other benefits for Russian officials.
“That declaration of a strategic alliance with Russia, which is an enemy country of the United States, opens a new and more serious perspective on the handling of the relationship between the United States and Nicaragua,” said the political analyst.
Since Ortega returned to power in 2007, he has strengthened his relations with Russia and other countries that rival the United States on the international stage, including China, Iran, and North Korea.
Nicaragua withdrew from Rio Treaty in 2012
As a consequence, Nicaragua has been declared a threat to U.S. security by two American administrations, in the context of its relations with these adversarial countries.
Another element that adds to these events is Nicaragua’s withdrawal in 2012from the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (commonly known as the Rio Treaty (TIAR in Spanish), a commitment in which the contracting parties «formally condemn war and pledge in their international relations not to resort to the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.»
Additionally, since the war in Ukraine began in 2022, Ortega has clearly aligned with Russia, showing his full support.
According to the political analyst, all of these factors contribute to the current situation where Nicaragua is seen alongside Cuba and Venezuela as major allies of Russia in the region.
«You add up the strategic alliance with Russia, Russia’s declaration as an enemy of the United States, Nicaragua’s declaration of facilitating its territory, the fact that Nicaragua has disengaged from security and defense cooperation with the United States since 2012, and the declaration that Nicaragua is a security threat, which now is seen as a more tangible threat to the United States because you’re talking about a publicly confessed ally of their declared enemy,» said the source.
«Nicaragua is not neutral, Nicaragua stands with Russia»
Laureano Ortega Murillo, son of the dictator Ortega and his representative in relations with Russia, emphasized Nicaragua’s support for Vladimir Putin’s regime on the same day the Russian spokesperson declared the United States as their enemy.
«It is very pleasing for us to share with our Russian brothers the progress in cooperation programs, to give continuity to projects and programs, and to reaffirm our unconditional support and solidarity at all times,» expressed the dictator’s son.
Ortega Murillo stated that they support the initiative promoted by Brazil and Mexico regarding peace in Ukraine, but reiterated Nicaragua’s alignment with Russia. He mentioned that the obstacle to ending the war between the two countries is the United States and its European allies, accusing them of financing and fomenting hatred in Ukraine.
In past statements, Ortega and Murillo have also said, «Nicaragua is not neutral, Nicaragua is with Russia.»
The political analyst remarked that Laureano Ortega’s recent statements escalate the situation significantly. «The relationship between the United States and Nicaragua will enter a higher level of confrontation with consequences across various domains, especially in an election year where the Ortega’s alignment with Russia has been utterly irresponsible and taken to the extreme with Laureano’s latest declarations,» the source said.
