By decree of President Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua will allow “Russian troops to carry out law enforcement duties, ‘humanitarian aid, rescue and search missions in emergencies or natural disasters.’”
Although Nicaragua says that the practice is routine and that other countries, including the US, Mexico and some other Central American countries have carried out similar missions on its soil, one cannot ignore the elephant in the room. America is now engaged in a proxy war with Russia, one which is being carefully carried out. The risk to American security has now escalated with Russian forces on America’s doorstep.
Russian special forces and training of Nicaraguan locals would escalate Russia’s campaign against democracy in Latin America. And a prolonged, strategic Russian military presence in Nicaragua is now possible.
“Nicaragua gives permission for Russian troops to enter country,” CBS News, June 11, 2022:
The government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has authorized Russian troops, planes and ships to deploy to Nicaragua for purposes of training, law enforcement or emergency response.
In a decree published this week, and confirmed by Russia on Thursday, Ortega will allow Russian troops to carry out law enforcement duties, “humanitarian aid, rescue and search missions in emergencies or natural disasters.”
The Nicaraguan government also authorized the presence of small contingents of Russian troops for “exchange of experiences and training.”
Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, told the Russian news outlet Sputnik that the measure was “routine.”
“We are talking about a routine — twice a year — procedure for the adoption of a Nicaraguan law on the temporary admission of foreign military personnel to its territory in order to develop cooperation in various areas, including humanitarian and emergency responses, combatting organized crime and drug trafficking,” Zakharova said.
She noted the law also authorizes troops from the United States, Mexico and other Central American countries for such purposes.
Ortega has been a staunch ally of Russia since his days in the leadership of the 1979 revolution that ousted dictator Anastasio Somoza. Ortega served as president from 1985 to 1990, before being re-elected to power in 2007.
Ortega’s government arrested dozens of political opposition leaders….
Jay Lukins says
Amy chance the Monroe Doctrine would apply here?
Infidel says
Had the Soviet Union been around today, they’d be doing high-fives in Leningrad! Every country in the region except Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil has elected Leftist governments. Including countries like Chile and Honduras
I’m not sure that the US would have been able to fix the region w/o culturally interfering in a big way in how they live. And right now, w/ this new reality, the best thing for the US to do – not that this government will – is to seal off the southern border and stop allowing Latinos who’ve thoroughly mismanaged their countries, to come to ours
PMK says
It’s not just Latinos coming here. People from all over Asia are flying to Mexico and coming across the border at will. They just have to join the caravans coming up from Central America and cross the border. Not long after 9/11, Arab passports were found in the desert near the US border. The invasion has been going on for decades. Now they’re just being blatant about it.
mortimer says
The Soviet Union had planned a sea-level canal across Nicaragua which would have permitted the USSR to interdict NATO shipping at will.
Reagan was right to try to remove Ortega.
Russia obviously sees this as an exact to its invasion of Ukraine. However, Ukrainians have been struggling for independence from Russia for 500 years. Ukrainian nationalism has nothing to do with geopolitics. It is simply a matter of self-determination.
mortimer says
addendum: Russia obviously sees this as an exact PARALLEL to its invasion of Ukraine
Infidel says
One difference, though: the Soviet Union was trying to export world revolution. Today, that is already underway in several countries, including this one. Only reason Russia is doing this is to spite the US, and give us the message that if we play in their backyard, they’ll play in ours. The one w/ the more dangerous agenda in this hemisphere is China, which is adding Latin American countries to their Belt/Road scams
However, it is a monumental failure of US foreign policy that while it is busy playing world cop in places like Africa and the Middle East, the entire Latin American hemisphere, except Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil, have turned Leftwards. Including solidly conservative countries like Chile
PMK says
If the people of Latin America don’t want freedom, then there is one word we should all say: Adios!!!!!!
gravenimage says
Nicaragua gives Russia permission to enter its country, carry out law enforcement, ‘humanitarian duties’
……………
Yet more indications that Russia is returning to its Communist roots, along with setting up Lenin statues and flying red hammer and sickle flags in Ukraine.
As for Nicaragua, here’s New Yorker magazine shocked about the inevitable consequences of Communism:
“The Revolution Eats Itself in Nicaragua”
Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have crushed civil society and thrown their former comrades in jail. What remains of the Sandinista ideal?
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-revolution-eats-itself-in-nicaragua
Apt bedfellows these days.
Infidel says
Yeah, I’m hoping that the news about Putin’s illness is correct, and that there is a power struggle in Moscow once he’s gone, and that people focused on fixing Russia itself come to power
gravenimage says
I certainly hope so, Infidel. Given the state of power in Russia these days, though, I am sadly not counting on this even if Putin does go, one way or another.
Infidel says
If Putin goes, and Russia is still struggling in Ukraine when that happens, I don’t expect his successor to continue the war. Particularly w/ all the casualties that Russia has been taking: this is even more embarrassing than Afghanistan (where there were Uzbeks, Tajiks and Azeris among the troops as well)