Nicaragua Severs Diplomatic Ties with Israel Following First Anniversary of Oct. 7 Attacks
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, attend a rally in Managua, Nicaragua, on Sept. 5, 2018. (Photo: AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
On Oct. 11, the government of Nicaragua announced it would sever all diplomatic ties with Israel. This is not the first time Nicaragua has cut ties with Israel, having done so in both 2010 and 1982. The Nicaraguan Congress passed a resolution to end diplomatic relations with Israel following the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks. In the year since the attacks, Palestinians have faced extreme devastation, with over 41,000 dead. The Nicaraguan government cited this as part of its reasoning for ending relations with Israel.
Vice President Rosario Murillo announced the severing of ties via social media, stating that her husband, President Daniel Ortega, had directed the government to end relations with the “fascist and genocidal government of Israel.” Following his directive, the Nicaraguan government announced its decision to sever ties with the Middle Eastern nation. In the resolution passed by Congress, Nicaragua declared its opposition to “genocide, occupation, and permanent aggression against the life and dignity of the Palestinian people.” The resolution also expressed support for Israeli families, stating that they “deserve our affection and support.”
Ortega has long been an outspoken critic of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During a televised speech meant to honor the national police force, Ortega referred to Netanyahu as the “son of the devil.” He stated that Netanyahu is pursuing terroristic policies and likened the Israeli prime minister to Adolf Hitler. The Nicaraguan government expressed concerns about the growing scope of the war as it extends into other Middle Eastern nations, such as Lebanon, and threatens Syria, Yemen, and Iran.
The announcement to end diplomatic ties with Israel is seen as largely symbolic, as relations between the two nations are virtually nonexistent. Many Western sources have attributed Nicaragua’s connections to Russia and Iran as reasons for its criticism of Israel. Ortega also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the same speech in which he denounced Netanyahu. However, Nicaragua has long maintained an amicable relationship with Palestine. It was among the first nations to recognize Palestinian statehood in 1988 and, in early 2024, launched legal proceedings against Germany at the International Court of Justice. The case sought to stop German arms sales to Israel but was later dismissed by the International Court of Justice.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres leaves a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, on Friday, Sep. 27, 2024. (Photo: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nicaragua’s actions signal a shift in support for Israel after a year of war. Several other Latin American nations, including Brazil, Colombia, and Chile, have also condemned Israel. These nations helped author a letter expressing support for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres after Israel declared him persona non grata, banning him from entering the country. Guterres was banned for not meeting Israel’s expectations of a strong enough condemnation of Iran’s missile attacks.
As the war between Palestine and Israel continues, Israel is increasingly struggling to maintain international support. Nicaragua’s decision to make the largely symbolic gesture of disavowing Israel is significant and should concern the nation. If a domino effect were to occur, with countries like Germany or the United States cutting ties with Israel, it could lead to a sizable shift in the Middle Eastern conflict.