Russian minister stops in Managua on his way to Cuba

After arriving in Managua from Caracas Wednesday night (Feb. 12), the Russian defense minister, Army Gen. Sergei K. Shoigu, spent several hours meeting with Nicaraguan Army and Defense Ministry officials, among them Defense Minister Martha Ruiz Sevilla, and the commander-in-chief of the Nicaraguan Army, Julio César Avilés Castillo.

According to a government spokeswoman, they discussed military and technical cooperation. No specifics were announced.

Thursday morning, accompanied by Russian Ambassador Nikolai Vladimir, Shoigu placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He was escorted by the Army Chief of Operations and Planning, Brig. Gen. Bayardo Ramón Rodríguez, and the Air Force chief, Brig. Gen. Spiro Bassy Aguilar.

In the afternoon, Shoigu was expected to meet with President Daniel Ortega.

On Tuesday (Feb. 10), the Army’s inspector general, Brig. Gen. Adolfo Zepeda Martínez told reporters that Nicaragua was interested in buying Russian-built MIG warplanes to combat drug trafficking along the country’s shores.

He described them as “solely defensive aircraft, not attack planes.” The Army has also said it needs eight new patrol boats and is considering buying them from Russia.

Shoigu arrived in Nicaragua from Venezuela, where he met with top echelons of the military and President Nicolás Maduro. In Caracas, Shoigu said that the Russian Army planned to give scholarships to the teenage children of Venezuelan officers to attend the Cadet and Suvorov military schools, Russian educational centers that “have a very rich tradition.”

He also invited Venezuelan officers and soldiers to participate in the international military games that will be staged this summer in Russia.

Next stop for the Russian minister: Cuba.

[Photo at top of Gen. Shoigu meeting with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.]