Central America
Nicaragua and China upgrade relations to strategic partnership
December 20 |
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega held a telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday where they agreed to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, on the second anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Recognizing that the strategic nature of bilateral relations has been highlighted on a daily basis, both parties agreed to elevate binational relations to the level of Strategic Partnership.
For Daniel Ortega and Xi Jinping, the decision to elevate relations corresponds to the common interests of both countries and their peoples and favors the development and prosperity of Nicaragua and China.
According to a joint communiqué, Daniel Ortega and Xi Jinping appreciated the rapid development of Sino-Nicaraguan ties since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations, and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest.
Both heads of state recognized the progress achieved in areas such as mutual political trust, practical and supportive cooperation in various areas and collaboration in multilateral forums over the past two years.
Elsewhere in the text, the Nicaraguan government expressed its support for the one China principle and reiterated that Beijing is the only legitimate government representing all of China.
The Nicaraguan side resolutely opposes Taiwan independence in all its manifestations, and reaffirmed its commitment not to maintain any kind of official contact with Taiwan, and also affirmed its support for all efforts of the Chinese Government to materialize the reunification of the country.
For its part, China affirmed its support for the Nicaraguan people to sovereignly choose the path of development in accordance with their own conditions, also supports the independence, sovereignty, self-determination, security and development interests of Nicaragua.
The Chinese side communicated its rejection of foreign interference in Nicaragua’s internal affairs.
In this regard, Xi Jinping’s government recognized that under the presidency of Daniel Ortega, the Central American country has achieved notable successes in defending independence, maintaining stability, developing the economy and improving the welfare of the people.
Beijing is confident that the current Nicaraguan government will achieve new successes in nation building and the Nicaraguan people will have a better life. The Chinese side will continue to provide support and assistance within its reach for Nicaragua’s economic and social development.
In another point of the communiqué, Nicaragua and China valued the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries and will promote its early entry into force.
The parties will take full advantage of mechanisms such as the Joint Economic-Commercial Commission and platforms such as the China-Nicaragua FTA, to expand the volume and raise the level of binational trade.
Central America
Arévalo accuses Porras and judge of undermining democracy in Guatemala
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo denounced a new attempt at a “coup” orchestrated by the Attorney General’s Office. He also requested an extraordinary session at the Organization of American States (OAS) to address the country’s ongoing political crisis.
The president has been at odds with Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union for being “corrupt” and “anti-democratic.” Since 2023, Arévalo has accused Porras of launching investigations against his party, Semilla, and the 2023 elections as part of a scheme to prevent his inauguration in January 2024.
From the presidential office, Arévalo has said he continues to “resist” the “coup plotters,” but tensions escalated last Friday when Judge Fredy Orellana, at the request of the Attorney General’s Office, ordered the electoral court to annul the Semilla party’s promoter group. Arévalo interpreted this as an attempt to revoke the positions won by the party.
“Orellana, a hitman who distorts the law in service of Consuelo Porras, is attempting to force […] the unconstitutional removal of a mayor, 23 elected deputies […], the vice president, and the president of the country,” Arévalo said in a televised address on Sunday.
“We call on the international community not to turn a blind eye to the coup being attempted in Guatemala,” he added, speaking alongside his cabinet and congressional members at the National Palace in Guatemala City.
Arévalo requested that the Organization of American States hold an extraordinary session to present “the serious threats” to the Guatemalan Constitution and democracy perpetrated by Porras and Orellana.
Yesterday, Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Ramiro Martínez reaffirmed the president’s statements, emphasizing the need “to go and expose the situation” Guatemala has been facing since last week due to the actions of the Attorney General’s Office.
Central America
New dismembered bodies found in San Juan river days after mass killing in Palencia
On the morning of Monday, October 27, Guatemala’s Volunteer Firefighters confirmed the discovery of two bodies and two human heads inside plastic bags in the San Juan River, located in the Zacualpía village at kilometer 21 of the Atlantic Highway, in the jurisdiction of Palencia.
The remains were found by personnel from Companies 85, 50, and Central, who responded after receiving a report about suspicious bags floating in the water. The gruesome discovery was made just a few meters from the site where eight tortured bodies were found under the San Juan Bridge on Friday, October 24.
Local authorities do not rule out a connection between both incidents and suspect they may be tied to the same criminal organization. Investigators from the Public Ministry and the National Civil Police arrived at the scene to gather evidence and transfer the remains to the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (Inacif).
According to data from the National Economic Research Center (CIEN), Guatemala recorded 2,154 homicides between January and August 2025, an increase compared to the 1,816 reported during the same period in 2024.
Central America
Four guatemalan soldiers arrested for stealing weapons from Northern Air Command
Four soldiers were arrested in connection with the theft of weapons from the Northern Air Command of the Ministry of Defense in Petén, Guatemala, following operations conducted by the Public Ministry (Prosecutor’s Office).
“During the operations, criminal scenes were processed, analyzed, and documented photographically, possible escape routes were identified, surveillance cameras were located, and potential witnesses were interviewed,” the Prosecutor’s Office explained in a social media post.
The detained soldiers were identified as Ludwin Jónathan Cardona Baltazar, charged with illicit association, dereliction of duty, and aggravated theft; and Josué Israel Pérez Jerónimo, Alain Omar Marroquín Soch, and Carlos Ernesto Ibarra Corrales, charged with dereliction of duty, according to Guatemala’s Prensa Libre.
The military personnel reportedly stole 55 rifles, 14,420 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition, 92 magazines of 35 rounds each, 19 magazines of 20 rounds each, and three grenade launchers, “which were allegedly moved from the arms warehouse to the outside for illicit sale.”
The Ministry of Defense stated that it will keep its internal control mechanisms active to prevent similar incidents.
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