Foreign relations of Nicaragua

Nicaragua pursues a subordinated foreign policy to Russia and China. A participant of the Central American Security Commission, Nicaragua also has taken a leading role in pressing for regional demilitarization and peaceful settlement of disputes within states in the region.

Nicaragua has submitted three territorial disputes, one with Honduras, another with Colombia, and the third with Costa Rica to the International Court of Justice for resolution.

International membership

At the 1994 Summit of the Americas, Nicaragua joined six Central American neighbors in signing the Alliance for Sustainable Development, known as the Conjunta Centroamerica-USA or CONCAUSA, to promote sustainable economic development in the region.

Nicaragua belongs to the United Nations and several specialized and related agencies, including:

World Bank
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA)
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Central American Common Market (CACM)
Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI).
Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA)
Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Association of Caribbean States (ACS)
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
Latin American Economic System (SELA)
Central American Integration System (SICA)

International disputes

Territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca. The ICJ referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required;
Maritime boundary dispute with Honduras in the Caribbean Sea.
Nicaragua is sovereign over the Rio San Juan, and by treaty Costa Rica has the right to navigate over part of the river with 'objects of commerce'. A dispute emerged when Costa Rica tried to navigate with armed members of its security forces.

International relations with intergovernmental organizations and countries

Nicaragua signed a 3-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2007. As part of the IMF program, the Government of Nicaragua agreed to implement free market policies linked to targets on fiscal discipline, poverty spending, and energy regulation. The lack of transparency surrounding Venezuelan bilateral assistance, channeled through state-run enterprises rather than the official budget, has become a serious issue for the IMF and international donors. On September 10, 2008, with misgivings about fiscal transparency, the IMF released an additional $30 million to Nicaragua, the second tranche of its $110 million PRGF.

The flawed municipal elections of November 2008 prompted a number of European donors to suspend direct budget support to Nicaragua, a move that created a severe budget shortfall for the government. This shortfall, in turn, caused the Government of Nicaragua to fall out of compliance with its PRGF obligations and led to a suspension of PRGF disbursements. The IMF is currently in negotiations with the Government of Nicaragua to reinstate disbursements.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Nicaragua maintains diplomatic relations with:

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! colspan="3" |frameless|425x425px

!Country

!Date

|10

|11

|12

|14

|- style="background:#D3D3D3"

|—

| (suspended)

|15

|16

|17

|18

|- style="background:#D3D3D3"

|—

| (suspended)

|19

|20

|21

|22

|23

|24

|25

|-style="background:#D3D3D3"

|—

| (suspended)

|26

|27

|28

|29

|30

|- style="background:#D3D3D3"

|—

| (suspended)

|31

|32

|33

|34

|36

|37

|38

|39

|40

|41

|42

|43

|44

|45

|46

|47

|48

|49

|50

|51

|52

|53

|54

|55

|56

|57

|58

|59

|60

|61

|62

|63

|64

|65

|66

|67

|69

|70

|71

|72

|73

|74

|75

|76

|77

|78

|79

|80

|81

|83

|84

|85

|86

|87

|88

|89

|90

|91

|92

|93

|94

|95

|96

|97

|98

|—

|99

|100

|101

|102

|103

|104

|105

|106

|107

|108

|109

|110

|- style="background:#D3D3D3"

|—

| (suspended)

|111

|112

|113

|114

|115

|116

|117

|118

|119

|120

|121

|122

|-style="background:#D3D3D3"

|—

| (suspended)

|123

|124

|125

|126

|127

|128

|129

|130

|132

|140

|141

|142

|143

|144

|—

|145

|146

|147

|148

|149

|150

|151

|152

|153

|154

|155

|156

|157

|158

|159

|160

|161

|162

|163

|164

|165

|166

|167

|168

|169

|170

|171

|172

|173

|174

|175

|176

|177

|178

|179

|180

|181

|182

|183

|Unknown

|184

|Unknown

Bilateral relations

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

! style="width:15%;"| Country

! style="width:12%;"| Formal Relations Began

!Notes

|- valign="top"

| ||1985 (With the People's Republic of China)||See China–Nicaragua relations

Nicaragua established diplomatic relations with the Republic of China in 1930 but maintained relations after the central government of the Republic of China retreated to Taiwan after declaring the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. After the Sandinista National Liberation Front took power in 1979, Nicaragua recognized the PRC on 7 December 1985 until 9 November 1990 when FSLN was defeated and resumed relations with the ROC, which continued under Daniel Ortega's presidency since 2007. On 9 December 2021, Nicaragua resumed relations with the PRC.

|- valign="top"

|||||See Colombia–Nicaragua relations

The relationship between the two Latin American countries has evolved amid conflicts over the San Andrés y Providencia Islands located in the Caribbean close to the Nicaraguan shoreline and the maritime boundaries covering 150,000 km<sup>2</sup> that included the islands of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina and the banks of Roncador, Serrana, Serranilla and Quitasueño as well as the arbitrarily designed 82nd meridian west which Colombia claims as a border but which the International Court has sided with Nicaragua in disavowing. The archipelago has been under Colombian control since 1931 when a treaty was signed during US occupation of Nicaragua, giving Colombia control over the islands.

Colombia has an embassy in Managua.
Nicaragua has an embassy in Bogotá.

|3 September 1905

|See Cuba–Nicaragua relations

Relations between the two countries were particularly positive during Nicaragua's initial Sandinista period and have been strong since the 2007 election of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua.

|- valign="top"

|||||See Denmark–Nicaragua relations

|- valign="top"

|||||See Finland–Nicaragua relations

Finland is a significant donor of aid to Nicaragua. In 2007, total aid amounted to around EUR 14.5 million. The cooperation focused on rural development, health care and supporting local government. In 1992, the Finnish government announced an aid program of US$27.4 million.

In 2006, the Finnish government pledged 4.9 million euros to help the Nicaraguan government integrate the ICT systems of 20 town councils. In 2008, the Finnish government revoked a 1.95 million euro aid package meant for Nicaragua in protest of what it alleged was a lack of transparency in Nicaragua's national budget and its municipal elections.

In 2004, Finnish President Tarja Halonen visited Nicaragua where she stated "The Finnish government and Parliament have decided that Nicaragua is one of the main targets of Finnish development aid. However, the visit has shown that Finland is not only giving money – it is also interested in what is happening here". The Finnish President also made a speech to the National Assembly of Nicaragua on 31 May 2004. In 2003, the two countries signed the Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments.

In February 2012, Finland made decision to stop development aid to Nicaragua. The main reason was concern over the state of the democracy in Nicaragua.

Finland is accredited to Nicaragua from its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
Nicaragua has an honorary consulate in Helsinki.

|- valign="top"

|||Diplomatic relations severed in November 2008||

Nicaraguan-Georgian diplomatic relations established on 19 September 1994 and ended on 29 November 2008. The Georgian Foreign Ministry said that it had cut diplomatic ties with Nicaragua in a response to the latter's recognition of independence of breakaway South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

|See Germany–Nicaragua relations

Germany has an embassy in Managua.
In April 2024, Nicaragua closed its embassy in Berlin. In future, official duties will be assumed by the Nicaraguan diplomatic mission in Austria.

|- valign="top"

|||||See Greece–Nicaragua relations

Greece is accredited to Nicaragua through its embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.
Nicaragua is accredited to Greece through its embassy in Rome, Italy.

|- valign="top"

||| || |See Holy See–Nicaragua relations

Holy See had an Apostolic Nunciature in Managua until 2023.
Nicaragua had an embassy in Rome to the Holy See until 2023.

|- valign="top"

|||||See India-Nicaragua relations

India has an honorary consulate in Managua.
Nicaragua has honorary consulate in New Delhi and in Mumbai.

|- valign="top"

|||Diplomatic relations severed in October 2024||Israel was the last country that still shipped weapons to the embattled Anastacio Somoza regime in 1978–1979 (the dictator's father had supported Israel in 1948, establishing a "special relationship" between Nicaragua and Israel), becoming the regime's main supplier of arms, after the Carter administration had cut off supplies amid the public outcry over Somozista troops' atrocities. This soured the relations with the -Sandinista government; the relations were then gradually normalized. In March 2017, Nicaragua and Israel reestablished diplomatic relations after they were suspended in 2010. In October 2024, Nicaragua broke ties with Israel again in solidarity with the Palestinian government and people amid the Gaza war.

|- valign="top"

|||1838||See Mexico–Nicaragua relations

Mexico has an embassy in Managua.
Nicaragua has an embassy in Mexico City.

|- valign="top"

|-||October 1979||See Nicaragua–Russia relations

Both countries signed diplomatic missions on October 18, 1979, a few months after the Sandinista revolution. President Vladimir Putin visited Nicaragua on July 12, 2014.

Nicaragua has an embassy in Moscow.
Russia has an embassy in Managua.

|- valign="top"

|||January 1962||

The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Nicaragua began in January 1962.

|Diplomatic Relations severed in October 2022

|The direct cause for severing relations was the Netherlands' decision to definitively terminate its financial contribution to the Nicaraguan authorities for the construction of a hospital in Nicaragua, which has been on hold for several years.

|- valign="top"

|||20 March 1851||See Nicaragua–Spain relations

Nicaragua has an embassy in Madrid.
Spain has an embassy in Managua.
Both countries are full members of the Association of Spanish Language Academies and the Organization of Ibero-American States
Nicaragua was a colony of Spain from the 16th century, Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821.
Nicaragua was in a coalition led by Spain during the Iraq War the Multi-National Force – Iraq between 2003 up to 2004.

|- valign="top"

|||1956|| |

thumb|right|Swiss Cooperation Office in Managua

Relations with Nicaragua and Switzerland focus on development cooperation, humanitarian aid and trade.

Nicaragua is accredited to Switzerland from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
Switzerland is accredited to Nicaragua from its embassy in San José, Costa Rica and maintains a Swiss cooperation office in Managua.

|- valign="top"

|||February 14, 1999||See Nicaragua–Syria relations

|- valign="top"

|||Nov. 11, 1926||See Nicaragua–Turkey relations

Turkey has an embassy in Managua.

Both countries share common membership of the World Trade Organization, as well as the Central America–United Kingdom Association Agreement. Bilaterally the two countries have an investment agreement.

|- valign="top"

|||1824; 1849|| |See Nicaragua–United States relations

thumb|right|200px|Embassy of Nicaragua in Washington, D.C.

Nicaragua has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and consulates-general in Miami and New York.
United States has an embassy in Managua.

|- valign="top"

||| 1849|| |See Nicaragua–Uruguay relations

thumb|right|150px|Embassy of Nicaragua in Montevideo

Nicaragua has an embassy in Montevideo.
Uruguay is accredited to Nicaragua from its embassy in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

|- valign="top"

|||1979||

Venezuela and Nicaragua have had diplomatic relations since January 1979. During the Venezuelan government of Carlos Andrés Pérez, they helped FSLN to overthrow regime of longtime Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle. Relations between Nicaragua and Venezuela have significantly improved during the presidency of Hugo Chávez. In 2007 Nicaragua became a formal member of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) international cooperation organization and the Caribbean oil alliance Petrocaribe. In the recent years Nicaragua has received discounted oil from Venezuela with low payments. The presidents of Venezuela and Nicaragua, President Hugo Chávez and President Daniel Ortega, have both described themselves as good friends and visited one another's nations.

Nicaragua has an embassy in Caracas.
Venezuela has an embassy in Managua.

States with limited recognition

The following table includes Republic of China, Georgia, and some of the states with limited recognition:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; width:100%;"

! scope="col" | Name

! scope="col" | Recognized by Nicaragua

! scope="col" | Notes

|||||See Abkhazia–Nicaragua relations

Nicaragua recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia on September 5, 2008.

At a press conference in November 2008, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos López said, "Certainly, we think that the decision [to recognize independent Abkhazia and South Ossetia] was fair and appropriate. They [the republics] must be given time for inner formalities. We will coordinate the possibility and terms of direct diplomatic relations at a convenient moment. Obviously and logically, we will be acting via our friends, probably Russia, to establish closer contacts and diplomatic relations [with the republics]."

| Yes

Palestine has an embassy in Managua.
Nicaraguan foreign minister, Denis Moncada, has publicly expressed solidarity with Palestinian statehood and called for "an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories," and the "liberation of Palestinian prisoners."

| Yes

| , claimed by Morocco.

|Yes

|See Nicaragua–South Ossetia relations

Nicaragua extended diplomatic recognition to South Ossetia Russia offered to strengthen ties with Nicaragua and to provide aid to Nicaragua to help rebuild areas damaged by hurricanes. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce canceled a planned trip to Nicaragua, with the U.S. Ambassador in Managua saying, "It isn't the appropriate moment for the visit."

| Yes

| A sovereign entity without territory, established diplomatic relations with 104 states.

|- valign="top"

|||Diplomatic relations severed in 2021||

Nicaragua used to maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of the People's Republic of China. In 2007, President Daniel Ortega stated that Nicaragua will maintain its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Ortega defended Nicaragua's right of having diplomatic relations with Taiwan and China at the same time and insisted that Nicaragua will not break its diplomatic relations with Taiwan and Vice-president Jaime Morales Carazo (during Ortega's first tenure) criticized the People's Republic of China for conditioning Nicaragua's diplomatic relations. Nicaragua maintained its diplomatic relations with Taiwan until 2021. On December 9, 2021, Nicaragua broke off diplomatic relations with the Republic of China and recognised the PRC as the legitimate Chinese government.

References

External links

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua
ICJ Nicaragua v. Colombia (Preliminary Objections) and (Merits) and 2007 Preliminary Objections Judgment and and BBC and Colombia President and and Analysis 20 Hague YIL 75–119 2008
[https://web.archive.org/web/20211207231635/https://americanembassynicaragua.com/]

International membership

International disputes

International relations with intergovernmental organizations and countries

Diplomatic relations

Bilateral relations

States with limited recognition

See also

References

External links