Nicaragua–Russia relations

Bilateral relations

Russian-Nicaraguan relations

Russia |
Nicaragua
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Russia in Managua| Embassy of Nicaragua in Moscow
Embassy of Nicaragua in Moscow

Nicaragua–Russia relations are the bilateral relations between Russia and Nicaragua.

## History

[edit]

Nicaragua first recognized the Soviet Union on 18 November 1944.[1] Agreements to open diplomatic missions were signed on October 18, 1979, between Nicaragua and the Soviet Union a few months after the Nicaraguan Revolution.[2] Russia is the sole successor to the Soviet Union, so ties have naturally continued with Russia since the Belovezha Accords. Russia has an embassy in Managua. Nicaragua has an embassy in Moscow.

The USSR developed great relations with the Sandinistas after the overthrow of the Somoza family. During the 1980s, the Soviet Union provided full political, economic, military, and diplomatic support to the left wing government of Nicaragua. This was not only a reaction to the Contra resistance movement but a full-fledged alliance with the Soviet Union, which provided free credit, economic subsidies and heavy weapon grants. The Nicaraguans got at no cost armaments such as heavily armed Mi-24 attack helicopters (Hinds), and Mi-17 transport helicopters.[3][4][5]

Nicaragua voted consistently for Communist causes during the 1980s. Cuban army and political delegates, subsidized by Russian money, were permanently staffed in Nicaragua, making the country a member of the Communist bloc. After Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega returned to power in 2007 Russia took over the patron role for Nicaragua[6] Nicaragua was the second country after Russia to recognize the disputed territories of South Ossetia[7] and Abkhazia.[8] In September 2008, perhaps in response to Nicaragua's support over the breakaway Georgian territories, Russia offered to strengthen ties with Nicaragua and to provide aid to Nicaragua to help rebuild areas damaged by hurricanes.[9]

In December 2008, Russian warships visited Nicaragua at the invitation of President Daniel Ortega, although Wilfredo Navarro of the opposition Constitutionalist Liberal Party said that without parliamentary approval the naval visit would be a breach of the Constitution.[citation needed] During the visit, Russian officials donated about $200,000 worth of generators and computers to hospitals, police, and the army.[10]

Shortly after, on December 18, 2008, Russia and Nicaragua concluded several bilateral agreements after talks between presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Daniel Ortega in Moscow, including Memorandums of understanding between the countries' agriculture ministries, and between Roscosmos and Nicaragua's Telecommunications and Postal Service Institute.[citation needed] Russian support has become more important to Nicaragua following withdrawal in late 2008 of US and European aid due to concerns about electoral fraud and handling of human rights and democracy.[11] In April 2009, Nicaragua dropped the requirement for Russian tourists to obtain visas.[citation needed]

After Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine on 18 March 2014, the Nicaraguan government officially recognized Crimea as a part of Russia.[12]

On July 12, 2014, Vladimir Putin made an official state visit to Nicaragua, meeting in Managua with President Ortega.[13]

In November 2020, Nicaragua opened an honorary consulate on the Crimean peninsula.[citation needed]

In June 2022, Russian state TV announced that the President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega invited Russian Armed Forces to enter his country in the second half of 2022. State TV host Olga Skabeeva said: "It's time for Russia to roll out something powerful closer to the American city upon a hill."[14]

On 12 October 2022, Nicaragua was one of only four countries in the UN which did not vote in favor of condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. The resolution was supported by 143 countries while 35 had abstained from voting. Nicaragua had been joined in its opposition to the resolution by North Korea, Syria, and Belarus.[15]

After the 1979 Nicaraguan Revolution, Nicaragua significantly relies on Soviet and Russian military equipment. In February 2025, the country received 5 Mil Mi-17 helicopters, 3 Antonov An-26 military-transport aircraft, as well as 18 ZU-23AE modernized air defense artillery systems as donations from Russia.[16]

On July 2025 the president of Nicaragua announced the country's recognition over Russia's claim and annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, marking it the first Latin American country to recognize the claim.[17]

## See also

[edit]

* Foreign relations of Nicaragua
* Foreign relations of Russia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Chronology". Current History. 8 (41): 74. January 1945.
2. ^ David Ryan (2000). US foreign policy in world history. Routledge. p. 172ff. ISBN 0-415-12345-3.
3. ^ Kinzer, Stephen (28 March 1984). "Soviet Help to Sandinistas: No Blank Check". The New York Times.
4. ^ "The Sandinistas: Ideology and Domestic Politics". Understanding the Iran-Contra Affairs. Brown University.
5. ^ Trainor, Bernard E. (1988-02-06). "CONTRA AID CUTOFF: A SETBACK, NOT A DEATH BLOW". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
6. ^ "Second chance for Nicaragua's Ortega". BBC News. 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
7. ^ "El Presidente de la República Nicaragua Decreto No. 46-2008" (PDF). Government of Nicaragua. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
8. ^ "El Presidente de la República Nicaragua Decreto No. 47-2008" (PDF). Government of Nicaragua. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
9. ^ "Russia seeks close ties with US ex-foe Nicaragua". Reuters. 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
10. ^ "Russian Warships Visit Cold War Ally Nicaragua". Radio Free Europe. 2008-12-14. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
11. ^ "Nicaragua's Ortega defiant after US, Europe yank aid: President Daniel Ortega is turning to Russia and Venezuela for replacement cash – with fewer strings attached". Christian Science Monitor. 2008-12-05. Retrieved 2009-04-24.
12. ^ "Nicaragua recognizes Crimea as part of Russia". Kyivpost.com. 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
13. ^ "Ortega Celebrates Putin's Nicaragua Visit as a 'Ray of Light'". Moscow Times. 2014-07-12. Retrieved 2014-07-13.
14. ^ "Russian state TV calls on army to take up offer to set up forces in Nicaragua". Newshub. 10 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 June 2022.
15. ^ "Ukraine war: UN General Assembly condemns Russia annexation". BBC. 12 October 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022.
16. ^ "ВВС Никарагуа получили 5 Ми-17, 3 Ан-26 и 18 ЗУ-23АЭ". ВПК.name (in Russian). 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
17. ^ "Nicaragua signals readiness to recognize Russia's annexation of occupied Ukrainian territories, media says". The Kyiv Independent. 2025-07-31. Retrieved 2025-08-01.

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