Q24N (EFE) Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua, has given permission for the entry of troops, ships, and aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces, as well as those from the United States, Cuba, and Venezuela, into Nicaragua from July 1, 2023, as reported in the official media.
The decree issued by the Sandinista leader, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, allows an undefined number of foreign military personnel to enter Nicaragua for “exchange purposes and humanitarian assistance for mutual benefit, in case of emergency situations” in the second half of 2023.
The decree also authorizes personnel from Mexico, Venezuela, the United States, Cuba, and the Conference of Central American Armed Forces ((Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic) to transit or station in Nicaragua.
In addition to this, Ortega has authorized Russian personnel to participate in “training and exchange exercises in humanitarian aid operations, search, rescue, and rescue missions in emergency situations or natural disasters” with the Humanitarian and Rescue Unit of the Nicaraguan Army.
Furthermore, he has allowed the entry of Russian troops to “carry out the exchange of experiences, training, operations against illegal acts in maritime spaces in the Caribbean Sea and jurisdictional waters in the Pacific Ocean of Nicaragua, with the Nicaraguan Naval Force”.
Consequently, from July 1 to December 31 of this year, an undefined number of Russian soldiers, ships, and aircraft can enter Nicaragua to take part in “exchange of experience and training in security work”.
Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela and the United States
In the same presidential decree, Ortega authorized the entry into Nicaragua for six months starting in July of Mexican personnel, ships, and aircraft for humanitarian exercises and training, as well as fifty Venezuelan military personnel for security and humanitarian aid exercises.
Cuban soldiers have also been allowed entry.
Additionally, Ortega authorized “the entry into national territory, previously planned and coordinated with the Nicaraguan Army, of personnel from the Armed Forces, ships and aircraft of the United States of America, in order to dock at ports and land at national airports to carry out humanitarian aid operations and search, rescue and rescue missions in emergency situations or natural disasters, by air, sea and land”.
