Nicaragua authorizes the entry of Russian troops, ships and aircraft

The National Assembly (Parliament) of Nicaragua, under the control of the Sandinistas, authorized this Tuesday the entry of troops, ships and aircraft of the Russian Armed Forces, at the urgent request of the country's president, Daniel Ortega, to participate in operations against crime in the Caribbean Sea and in the Nicaraguan Pacific Ocean.

The entry of Russian troops, a country that maintains a war in Ukraine, was authorized with the vote of 78 Sandinista legislators and their allies, of the 91 deputies that make up Parliament.

The legislators also ratified the entry for six months, starting next July, of personnel, ships and aircraft from the Armies of Cuba, the US, Mexico, Venezuela and Central American countries.

SANDINISTAS DENOUNCE "DIRTY CAMPAIGN"

During the debate, the pro-government deputies denounced an alleged campaign by other countries and international media about the entry of Russian troops into Nicaragua.

The head of the Defense and Security Commission, the Sandinista Filiberto Rodríguez, explained in the plenary session that "it is already a tradition to approve and ratify" the entry and exit of soldiers from different countries with which Nicaragua maintains "diplomatic and military relations."

In that sense, he charged against the United States Undersecretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian Nichols, for criticizing the entry of the Russian military into Nicaragua.

"He does not remember, he does not know or he is uninformed, that this is a tradition, and that the entry of US troops is also being ratified," argued Rodríguez, who rejected that Nicaragua is a threat to regional security.

On his side, the Sandinista deputy Wálmaro Gutiérrez accused the international press of promoting a campaign with the entry of the Russian military "with the aim of distorting and distracting national and international public opinion."

He mentioned the CNN television network, the British BBC and the Spanish newspaper El País "and many others (media) that have lent themselves to this dirty campaign", with which, according to what he said, "they have deliberately misrepresented and to lie with the sole objective of creating discord and anxiety".

In favor of the entry of soldiers from other countries, Gutiérrez said that since 2007 they have approved 40 decrees of the same nature and that "in recent times" it has been done "every six months."

"The intervening troops that (Russia) has brought (to Nicaragua) are taxis, buses and training for the National Police," said fellow Sandinista Moisés Absalón Pastora on his side.

RUSSIA WILL PARTICIPATE IN OPERATIONS IN NICARAGUA

Ortega, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, authorized the entry of Russian troops during the second half of this year to participate in operations "against illicit" in the Caribbean Sea and the Nicaraguan Pacific Ocean, according to the decree.

Also the entry, on a rotating basis, of 80 Russian soldiers to participate with the elite corps of the Nicaraguan Army "in an exchange of experiences and training exercise in humanitarian aid operations."

Likewise, the entry of another 50 Russian soldiers, on a rotating basis, to participate with members of the Naval Force, Air Force and Transmission Corps "in the exchange of experiences and operational communication with ships and aircraft of the Nicaraguan Army in confrontation tasks and fight against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime".

In total, the Sandinista leader authorized an undetermined number of Russian soldiers, ships and aircraft to enter Nicaragua from July 1 to December 31 of this year, who will participate, among others, in "exchange of experience and training in security tasks ".

ALSO FROM CUBA, USA AND MEXICO

In the decree ratified today, Ortega also authorized for six months, starting next July, the entry into the country of personnel, ships and aircraft of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela that will carry out the same functions as those of Russia.

He also authorized the entry of soldiers from Cuba, Mexico and Central American countries, 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 that their entry will be "previously planned and coordinated with the Nicaraguan Army."

The day before, the president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, expressed his concern about the upcoming arrival of Russian troops, ships and military aircraft in Nicaragua.

Russia is an old ally of Nicaragua that during the first Sandinista regime (1979-1990) provided the Nicaraguan Armed Forces with Soviet weapons.