Russia is rekindling its once-strong ties to Nicaragua, possibly including providing the Central American nation with jet fighters, stoking unease as far away as the Andes in South America.
Later this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will arrive in Nicaragua as part of a swing through four Latin American nations, the culmination to a series of high-level Russian visits to the nation in the last year. Last month, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu paid a two-day visit.
The prospect of the jet fighters has spawned fears of a regional arms race and again makes Nicaragua a bit player in the geopolitical to-and-fro between Washington and Moscow. - McClatchy Newspapers