Nicaragua's Shadow Diplomacy: Sandinista Maneuvering with Russia and China

This week in Washington, where policy often turns on what doesn’t get said out loud, the regime in Managua reminded us once again that America’s adversaries rarely sleeps—and when it does, it does so with one eye open, usually pointed toward Moscow or Beijing. One thing is clear, America needs to work to break Nicaragua’s ties to Russia and China.

While the media spotlight flickers on protests or punditry, the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship has been steadily deepening its operational ties with America’s top strategic adversaries: Russia and China. These are more than ceremonial exchanges. They are deliberate alignments of economic, military, and surveillance capabilities designed to entrench authoritarian power in our own neighborhood—and to test American resolve.

In late 2024, Russia and Nicaragua finalized a significant five-year military cooperation pact, solidifying and expanding their existing military ties. The agreement encompasses various forms of collaboration, including exchanging information on military matters, coordinating responses to security threats, and sharing experiences related to military doctrines.