First U.S., now Dutch cut aid to Nicaragua

In the aftermath of Nicaragua’s recent local elections, U.S. officials decided to withhold aid from the Central American country. Up to $175 million in aid could be lost due to concerns over alleged fraud, violence, and political intimidation by the Nicaraguan government.

Last week the Dutch government joined the U.S. in not giving aid to Nicaragua. “I find it irresponsible to give direct aid to the Sandinista government which has sabotaged the free and fair elections in all possible ways,” the Dutch Minister of Development Aid said on Thursday after his government decided to withhold over $17 million in assistance.

Naturally, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega was not too pleased with either government’s decision. Earlier this month, he ordered the U.S. to pay Nicaragua reparations owed to them via a 1986 International Court of Justice decision. Ortega also spoke out during last week’s Rio Group summit:

"A Latin American nation is under attack ... (by) the decision of the Yankee (US) government and the Europeans to suspend financing for Nicaragua," Ortega told a summit of regional leaders in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil.

Ortega said Nicaragua has been singled out because it does not accept orders from the "capitalist tyranny."

"Since when are we slaves of the Europeans? We broke off our chains some time ago," he said.

Image- AFP (Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega during his visit to Russia this week.)
Sources- The Latin Americanist, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, AFP, Bloomberg