MOSCOW, October 1 – Novosti. There will be no serious consequences for the break in relations between Nicaragua and the Netherlands, Nicaragua will not go into further confrontation with the European Union, Viktor Kheyfets, professor at the Faculty of International Relations at St. Petersburg State University, told Novosti.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nicaragua announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with the Netherlands in connection with the intervention of the kingdom in the internal affairs of the country.
“At one time, the Netherlands partially financed and allocated a loan to Nicaragua for the construction of a hospital, but in 2018 they suspended funding for the project due to disagreement with the actions of the country’s government, which severely suppressed internal protests,” Heifetz said.
Then human rights violations were recorded, in connection with which the Dutch government decided to suspend funding (but did not withdraw from the project completely).
“Now the Nicaraguan authorities have tried to restore the project, received a harsh response from the government of the Netherlands, which was expressed by the ambassador in the country. They used this as an excuse to break off relations,” the expert added. The Netherlands’ position is that they do not recognize the results of the last elections in Nicaragua.
On the whole, Kheyfets believes that this case will not have far-reaching consequences, including in relations with other countries: “This will not affect trade relations, there are not very many of them anyway, the Netherlands is by no means the main economic partner of Nicaragua.” But at the same time, he clarified, if the position of the Netherlands is supported by other European countries, which for the most part do not recognize the elections in Nicaragua, then the country will have to consistently sever relations with other countries – the Nicaraguan authorities will not agree to this.
“The Nicaraguan economy is very dependent on foreign trade. And with all the leftist rhetoric, this is a pure neoliberal economy,” the expert stressed. Therefore, the EU authorities have many opportunities to put pressure on the Nicaraguan authorities.
