Country Snapshot

Population: 5,128,517 (July 2003 est.) Size, comparable to U.S.: slightly smaller than the state of New York Per Capita GDP, not adjusted for PPP (year): (2001 est.): $470 Income, wealthiest 10% / poorest 10%: 63.6/.7 (1998) Population earning less than $2 a day: 94.5% Ranking, Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index: 88 out of 133 Defense Expenditure as a percentage of GDP: 1.1% (2001) Size of armed forces: 16,000 (2001-2002) U.S. military personnel present: 12 (2003)

The United States is moving gradually toward closer relations with Nicaragua’s military, an institution dominated for years by the Sandinista party, whose leaders the Reagan Administration sought to overthrow during the 1980s. The United States only began providing International Military Education and Training (IMET) assistance to Nicaragua in 1997. The State Department’s 2000 Congressional Presentation for Foreign Operations states that IMET intends to “advance the professionalism of the Army, and work towards integrating Nicaragua into regional and global arrangements."¹ In 1999, about 70 Nicaraguans were to be trained with IMET funding.

Due to post-Hurricane Mitch disaster relief efforts, the level of U.S. military activity in Nicaragua has reached a level without precedent in recent years. In 1999 Nicaragua, along with Honduras, will be one of the main hosts of a greatly expanded schedule for the “New Horizons” series of Humanitarian and Civic Assistance (HCA) exercises. U.S. personnel will build schools, wells, and clinics, provide medical assistance, and repair roads. This follows a 1998 HCA exercise which brought medical personnel to Managua.²

Nicaragua, like several of its Central American neighbors, receives demining assistance. U.S. funding for this activity increased after Hurricane Mitch, as  flooding moved previously mapped but unremoved landmines, requiring renewed detection and mapping efforts.

While the bilateral military relationship is relatively new, Nicaragua works with the United States on a number of security-related programs. For example, according to the State Department’s February 1999 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), "During 1998, for the first time, the U.S. Government provided significant anti-narcotics assistance to the National Police. Most notably, State Department funds purchased a $75,000 patrol craft for anti-narcotics missions off the Atlantic Coast."³ The State Department’s Congressional Presentation notes, “Funding will also support the development of the civilian Ministry of Defense and its national defense policy and transparent defense budget."⁴

The State Department’s International Narcotics Control (INC) program has a regional Central America account that covers Nicaragua, aiding National Police anti-drug efforts. This account is expected to spend $4,875,000 in 1999. According to the program's 2000 budget request, "Special attention will be given to countries affected by Hurricane Mitch, to help affected nations rebuild law enforcement capabilities and strengthen internal control functions in the post-Mitch environment."⁵

Nicaragua now participates in some of the Southern Command’s regular multilateral military training exercises, among them Fuerzas Aliadas Peacekeeping and Fuerzas Aliadas Humanitarian.

Nicaragua did not purchase weapons through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program in 1998. Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) licenses, mostly for purchases of small arms and spare parts, were valued at $7,864.⁶

Sources:

¹ United States, Department of State, Office of Resources, Plans and Policy, Congressional Presentation for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2000 (Washington: February 1999): 910.

² United States, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Humanitarian and Civic Assistance Program of the Department of Defense Fiscal Year 1998 (Washington: March 1, 1999).

³ United States, Department of State, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 1998 (Washington: February, 1999) <http://www.state.gov/www/global/narcotics_law/1998_narc_report/camex98_part3.html>.

⁴ Congressional Presentation for Foreign Operations, Fiscal Year 2000 910.

⁵ United States Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Congressional Presentation (Washington: March, 1999): 57 <http://www.state.gov/www/global/narcotics_law/fy2000_budget/latin_america.html>.

⁶ United States, Department of State, U.S. Arms Exports: Direct Commercial Sales Authorizations for Fiscal Year 1998 (Washington: July, 1999): 74.