Export to the rescue: Russian and Nicaraguan parliamentarians to meet in Managua

Nicaragua wants to increase exports of coffee, cocoa, seafood and fruits to Russia. This was reported to Izvestia by the first Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of the Latin American Republic, Arling Alonso. This issue will be discussed at the planned meeting of the parliamentarians of the two countries, which will be held in Managua. Negotiations between the legislators will take place before the end of the year, most likely in December, said Konstantin Kosachev, Vice Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation. Legislators from Nicaragua are also interested in cooperation with the Russian Federation on international issues. We are talking, in particular, about countering Western sanctions and joint support for Cuba.

When can a personal meeting between representatives of the Russian Federation and Nicaragua take place?

Representatives of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation and the National Assembly of Nicaragua will hold talks until the end of 2025.

— At the last meeting (in December 2024. We agreed to make our work more dynamic this year, and we agreed to meet and continue regular exchanges of delegations, but in the format of face—to-face meetings. We hope that the meeting will take place no later than the first half of the year," Arling Alonso, First Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of Nicaragua and co—chair of the Russia–Nicaragua Interparliamentary Cooperation Commission, told Izvestia.

The Russian side clarifies that the visit of representatives of the Federation Council to Nicaragua is likely to take place at the end of the year.

— In December, the tenth anniversary of the establishment by the Nicaraguan authorities of a state holiday, the Day of Russian—Nicaraguan Friendship, will be celebrated. We planned our contact and the visit of our delegation of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation to Nicaragua in conjunction with this date," Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia.

According to Arling Alonso, on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the holiday, the parties have already planned a number of joint events, in particular, the modernization of the monument to Nicaraguan revolutionary Carlos Fonseca Amador in Moscow.

— I highly appreciate our level of cooperation with Nicaragua. This is a great example of how relationships should be built between partners, friends, and like-minded people who are interested in each other. We value our relations with Nicaragua very much and, of course, we are doing everything to further strengthen them along the parliamentary line. Another fact that confirms the current nature of relations is the participation of the Nicaraguan delegation in the Victory Day celebrations. The delegation was headed by the President's special envoy for relations with Russia, who is also the son of current President Laureano Ortega," Konstantin Kosachev emphasized.

What will be discussed at the meeting of the parliamentarians of Russia and Nicaragua

One of the important topics of the upcoming meeting of Russian and Nicaraguan legislators will be the strengthening of trade cooperation between the two countries.

— There are many different topics on the agenda. Among other things, we will discuss the possibility of creating draft laws in the field of cybersecurity and information security. In addition, it is important for us to increase exports of Nicaraguan products to Russia, such as coffee, cocoa, seafood, and fruits. We are also interested in Russian investments in strategically important areas for our country," Arling Alonso tells Izvestia.

In 2024, imports from Russia to Nicaragua totaled $195 million. It mainly includes vaccines and other medical products, nitrogen fertilizers, cargo transport, fans, vodka, and wires. Managua also offers entrepreneurs to become a showcase for Russian goods and provide conditions for their re-export to other Central American countries.

Earlier, in an interview with Izvestia, the special representative of the President of Nicaragua for the development of relations with the Russian Federation, Laureano Ortega, said that the Latin American state's exports are mainly aimed at the United States, but one of the priorities for the country's economy is to increase supplies to the Russian Federation, for which Managua needs investments from Russian companies. Nicaragua is also ready to supply meat, rum, tobacco, sugar and peanuts to Russia.

— It is important to strengthen dialogue at the legislative level and jointly adopt declarations on important international issues, including opposing the aggressive policy of the collective West against the Russian Federation. We are also drawing up a legislative framework in order to neutralize the effect of the sanctions policy against the Russian Federation. Together with Russia, we have also already adopted declarations condemning the economic blockade of Cuba and its inclusion in the list of countries that sponsor terrorism," Arling Alonso summed up.

Relations between Russia and Nicaragua are actively developing in healthcare matters. The countries are working together to create a center for nuclear medicine, as well as produce medicines for the regional market at the Mechnikov Latin American Institute of Biotechnology (this is a production site owned by the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums of the FMBA of Russia).

Military cooperation is another actively developing area of Russian—Nicaraguan cooperation. An agreement on military cooperation between the two countries may be signed in 2025. It assumes that Moscow and Managua will regularly exchange experience and information in various branches of military-technical cooperation, conduct joint exercises, and train soldiers. At the same time, Nicaragua annually approves the presence of a small contingent from the Russian Federation on its territory for training and exchange of experience.