Nicaragua, USA and the Roots of the Geopolitical Crisis in Latin America

The U.S. intervention in Nicaragua and its geopolitical consequences

In 1927, Augusto César Sandino launched an insurrectionist campaign against the U.S. occupation of Nicaragua. On orders from President Calvin Coolidge, U.S. Marines had intervened to end a civil war between the conservative government and liberal rebels. In his manifesto, Sandino declared war on the United States and condemned the liberal leaders who had agreed to lay down their arms in the face of foreign intervention.

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The asymmetric war and the failure of the non-intervention policy

The United States soon found itself involved in a bloody counterinsurgency campaign against Sandino's forces. Between 1927 and 1933, more than 100 Marines lost their lives in Nicaragua. The Roosevelt administration then adopted the Good Neighbor Policy, abandoning direct intervention in the internal affairs of Latin America. Sandino, despite the end of the occupation, did not live long: he was captured and executed by forces loyal to General Anastasio Somoza in 1934.

The legacy of Sandino and the rise of the Somoza

Sandino's death paved the way for the Somoza dictatorship, supported by the United States. The dynasty ruled Nicaragua until 1979, when it was overthrown by a new revolutionary group that called itself "Sandinista" in honor of the rebel. Today, the Sandinista party, led by Daniel Ortega, continues to govern the country, transforming it into a virtual dictatorship.

National security concerns and fears of communism

Representative Maria Elvira Salazar has stated that Ortega's Nicaragua represents a threat to national security, potentially offering an air base for Chinese bombers. Similar concerns arose in the 1980s, when the prospect of communist hegemony in Central America pushed the United States to support violent actions in Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala. These fears were also expressed in popular culture, such as the 1984 film "Red Dawn," in which Nicaraguan troops join Soviet forces to invade Colorado.

The U.S. intervention as the root cause of current tensions

Many of the current threats posed by Nicaragua can be seen as a result of the return of U.S. policies. Without the 1927 intervention, there would have been no Sandino insurrection, no Somoza dictatorship, no Sandinista movement, no Contra war, or Ortega's dictatorship today. This suggests that U.S. foreign policies can have long-term consequences that reverberate for decades.

The lack of historical reflection in the United States

Americans tend to judge presidents based on short electoral cycles, rather than considering the long-term consequences of their foreign policies. For example, many are unaware that the United States occupied Nicaragua at the end of the 1920s and the beginning of the 1930s. This lack of historical memory can lead to repeating the same mistakes.

Trump's foreign policies and intervention in Venezuela

As the United States prepares for the 2026 elections, the failures of Donald Trump's foreign policies will be in the spotlight. Among these, the conflict with Iran and the intervention in Venezuela. The Trump administration captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and gained unprecedented control of the country's oil resources, presenting this move as a success. However, this policy could have long-term consequences similar to those of the intervention in Nicaragua.

The Monroe Doctrine and military intervention in Latin America

The Trump administration argues that results justify the interventionist approach. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the majority of Latin American countries are now led by pro-American governments. However, these claims may be misleading. Pro-American governments have been created through gunboat diplomacy and electoral interference, but their long-term stability is uncertain.

The lessons of history and potential future consequences

History teaches that the era of gunboat diplomacy in the early 20th century was followed by revolutions, insurrections, and nuclear crises. In the case of Nicaragua, it took nearly 50 years for the bill of the U.S. intervention to come due. The aggressive foreign policies of the Trump administration could generate similar consequences in the second 20th century. The key questions are: when will this reaction emerge, what form will it take, and what U.S. response will be most effective in mitigating negative consequences and addressing root causes?