Nicaragua ratifies Russia military cooperation pact and authorizes Russian troop presence

The Russian Federation Council ratified a bilateral military cooperation agreement with Nicaragua on 1 May 2026, a pact first signed by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and Nicaraguan army chief Julio César Avilés in September 2025. The agreement creates legal frameworks for joint training, information exchange, counter‑terrorism, anti‑piracy operations and the protection of Russian personnel conducting missions in Nicaragua.

On 31 May 2026, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice‑President Rosario Murillo issued a presidential decree allowing the entry and stationing of Russian (as well as Chinese, Cuban, US, Mexican, Venezuelan and other Central‑American) troops, ships and aircraft from 1 July to 31 December 2026. The decree cites humanitarian assistance, experience‑sharing, and maritime security training as the purpose of the Russian presence, including participation with Nicaragua’s Special Operations Command and naval forces.

Both measures expand Russia’s strategic foothold in Central America and formalise a framework for continued military collaboration between the two governments.