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Russia and Nicaragua Collaborate on Space and Drugs

Russia is gaining influence in Central America in exchange for helping Nicaragua cut down on trafficking and explore the universe.
Photo via AP

Russia has a new partner in space and drug trafficking. Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced last week that he had signed an agreement with Moscow to explore the universe.

“There is a convention on the cooperative use and exploration of extraterrestrial space for peaceful purposes,” Ortega said at a joint news conference with Russian Chancellor Sergei Lavrov on April 29 in Managua.

On April 1, Russian legislators passed draft legislation to establish a network of satellite navigation stations in Nicaragua. Now, further details are emerging about the collaboration between the countries.

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Russia and Nicaragua have a history of alliances since 1979 when the Sandinista Revolution took place in the Central American country. In 1990, when the sandinistas lost control, the relationship cooled down but it strengthened again from 2007, when Ortega became president. Since then, Russia has supported Nicaragua both economically and strategically — gaining a strong regional ally in the process.

Nicaragua and Russia are also much more than just space partners, however. Ortega emphasized that the Russian military will assist his efforts in the fight against drug trafficking, as well as the extraterrestrial exploits.

“In the area of national defense we have managed to make great progress with the help of the Russian Federation,” Ortega said.

Currently, along the coast of the Nicaraguan Caribbean, five miles from the small port of El Bluff, Russian and Nicaraguan ships are practicing maneuvers and monitoring drug trafficking vessels.

“We have conducted a joint-force training exercise to strengthen the performance and dexterity of our operators, as they work to capture drug-trafficking vessels. We are reinforcing patrol and vigilance in the territorial waters that have been returned to Nicaragua,” Marvin Corrales, chief of the Nicaraguan Naval Force, told VICE News.

Corrales is referring to the waters that Nicaragua gained from Colombia in the 2012 ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

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Moscow is also working on assembling a military training center for their personnel, which according to Ortega will benefit not only Nicaraguan military, but also nine other unspecified countries.

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Russia’s ambassador to Nicaragua, Nikolay Mikhaylovich Vladimir, told Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa that there is nothing secretive about the collaboration agreement between his country and Nicaragua.

The diplomat explained why Russia is interested in getting closer to Latin America. “The world is much more complex; in fact it’s a multipolar world and one of the most dynamic poles is Latin America, and Nicaragua — as a Latino country that is a member of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) integration and regional integration process — plays a huge role. We see a pole that has its own interests, Asian countries have their own interests, countries in the Pacific have their own interests — this is the new world order,” Vladimir stated.

Although little is known about the extent of Russia and Nicaragua’s relationship, even within the Central American country, independent security expert Robert Orozco told VICE News that while there is still a “cloud” surrounding the agreements, things are slowly becoming clearer

“One of the main motives of the Russian offensive is that they have decided to step out of their immediate surroundings and to [a wider] geopolitical interest, strengthening their relationship with other countries in Latin America,” said Orozco, emphasizing Moscow’s long-standing military relationships with Venezuela and Cuba.

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Nicaragua will be assisting with the expansion of Russian forces in the area, according to Orozco. The Central American country could also act as a bridge to multilateral bodies like CELAC and other partner countries in the region.

But the Central American country also has plenty to gain. “Nicaragua is taking advantage of Russia’s interest in the region,” added Orozco.

“Ortega has become an operator for Russian interests,” he continued. Orozco said that Ortega has benefitted economically from this exchange, receiving economic and military support, in exchange for Russia’s strategic and territorial presence .

Apart from the military aspect, Russia has also supported Nicaragua with food, transportation, and other services. After the powerful earthquakes in the Nicaraguan pacific on April 11, three field hospitals of the six that were set up were donated by Russia.

Over the next months Russian investors are also expected to make their mark in Nicaragua. The Ortega government recently organized a visit to Moscow for members of Pro Nicaragua, a business NGO that works to promote investment in the country.

Orozco believes this could place some tension on Nicaragua’s trade relationship with the US, as “they are the main importer of Nicaraguan products.” He added that US military cooperation with Nicaragua has been reduced to anti-narcotic operations in the Caribbean.

Yet Nicaragua’s military cooperation with Russia is concerning other countries in the region. Enrique Castillo, Costa Rica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, said in a press interview on May 4: “Nicaragua is becoming armed and entering into a military dependence with Russia, who have declared their desire to have bases in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, with the euphemistic name of "refueling bases." We know that it actually goes beyond that. Russia is facilitating the arming of Nicaragua, with all kinds of weapons and ships; there have even been talks of purchasing aircraft. Problems are expected.”

Russia’s official position is different. "The claims that Russia has plans to install military bases in several Latin American countries — and is generally preparing a 'military expansion' in this region — are not concurrent with the reality. The creation of maintenance centers for the ships belonging to the Russian Army — not military bases — is being negotiated with various Latin American countries," Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defense, said at a March 29 press conference.

Yet Russian presence in Latin America is definitely increasing, creating a new geopolitical reality with echoes of the Cold War.