Nicaragua Slams US NICA Act for Violating Sovereignty

The NICA act is widely seen as an attempt by the United States to harm another key regional ally of Venezuela.

After the United States advanced a bill to block off Nicaragua from global financial loans, the Sandinista-led government has slammed the United States for violating its sovereignty and engaging in “regressive” politics.

"The Government of Reconciliation and National Unity has expressed at different times, and with the same firmness, our position regarding this irrational, offensive and harmful action to Nicaraguans’ human rights: We consider this law initiative a violation to the sovereignty of Nicaragua, and a denial of all political,
social, cultural, and economic processes that are developed to improve the life of everyone, and to promote joy, harmony and wellbeing in our blessed, united and forever free homeland," a Nicaraguan government statement said.

Nicaragua finds itself “faced with regressive, interventionist, and disrespectful positions on the part of certain North American congresspeople that still have not overcome conflicts and interests that are inconsistent with the will and peace of the people,” the statement said.

The Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act of 2017, known as the NICA Act, was approved unanimously by the House of Representatives, and seeks to cut the Nicaraguan government from international financial loans.

The law imposes sanctions against the Sandinista-led government for alleged “violations of human rights and retrogression of democracy in Nicaragua.”

The Nicaraguan government again reiterated its commitment on Tuesday to democracy, and the “paths of harmony, encounter, understanding, security, and prosperity.”

The widespread support for the attacks on Nicaraguan sovereignty within the U.S. government are widely seen as a way of attacking key allies and supporters of Venezuela, of which Nicaragua is one.

Another key ally of Venezuela, Cuba, has also been facing renewed waves of attacks, including the dispelling of 15 embassy diplomats by the U.S.

“The main focus is to avoid economic sanctions beyond the NICA Act, such as those applied to Venezuela.” the head of the American Chamber of Commerce of Nicaragua, Bosco Noguera said.