The government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has launched a startling verbal assault on Mexico, accusing its embassy officials in Managua of acting like 'criminals' for providing sanctuary to citizens fleeing his administration.
The inflammatory remarks, made by Vice President Rosario Murillo, mark a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations. They come just days after Mexico evacuated a group of Nicaraguan exiles from its embassy, transporting them to Mexico City for their safety.
A Deepening Rift
This incident is the latest in a series of disputes that have severely strained relations. The friction began in earnest when Mexico condemned Ortega's controversial re-election in 2021, a process widely criticised by the international community. In retaliation, Nicaragua expelled Mexico's ambassador and severed diplomatic ties.
Although a Mexican diplomatic presence remains in Managua to handle consular affairs, the relationship is now at a historic low. Murillo's statement frames the embassy's humanitarian protection of exiles not as diplomatic protocol, but as a 'violation of law'.
Isolating a Nation
Analysts suggest this move further cements Nicaragua's position as one of the most politically isolated countries in the Western Hemisphere. Under Ortega's increasingly authoritarian rule, thousands of Nicaraguans, including opposition figures, journalists, and activists, have been forced into exile.
The decision by Mexico to offer them shelter is seen by many as a stand for human rights, but characterised by the Ortega-Murillo government as an act of foreign interference.
This latest spat raises serious questions about the safety and future of diplomatic engagements in Nicaragua, signalling a regime that appears increasingly intolerant of any form of dissent, whether domestic or international.
