In a recent virtual summit with fellow Latin American leaders, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega expressed his willingness to deploy “Sandinista fighters” to Venezuela. This offer comes as a response to potential threats of an “armed counterrevolution” following the disputed presidential election held in July, which saw Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared the winner amid significant unrest and skepticism from both domestic opposition and international observers.

Maduro’s election victory has been met with widespread protests and accusations of electoral fraud, leading to at least 24 civilian fatalities and heightened political violence. In recent months, Venezuelan security forces have arrested around 2,000 individuals identified as opposition supporters. During the summit, President Ortega assured Maduro that in the event of confrontation, his government would support Maduro’s forces with personnel from the Sandinista movement, which is synonymous with the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN)—the political party to which Ortega belongs.

Ortega refrained from detailing the nature of the support he was offering, leaving it ambiguous whether he referred to Nicaraguan police, military personnel, or groups known to carry out acts of violence alongside government forces—exceptions that human rights organizations have documented but that Ortega has denied.

The summit also served as a platform for Ortega to critique leaders such as Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombia’s Gustavo Petro for not endorsing Maduro’s recent electoral claim. Ortega labeled Lula’s stance on the Venezuelan election results as “shameful,” suggesting that Lula had compromised his integrity by yielding to pressures from the United States. In contrast, Petro articulated his disapproval of Ortega’s actions, emphasizing his commitment to human rights.

Venezuela’s electoral situation remains contentious, as the Venezuelan electoral council, reportedly aligned with Maduro’s government, asserts that he won over 50% of the votes. However, both the opposition coalition and independent electoral monitors from organizations such as the United Nations and the Carter Center have expressed doubts regarding the legitimacy of these findings. Concurrently, the Venezuelan opposition has released a substantial amount of polling data that purports to document a victory for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia over Maduro, further intensifying scrutiny on the election’s authenticity.

Related posts:

Venezuelan Opposition Leader Stands Against Brazil’s Suggestion for New Presidential Election Brazil and Colombia Urge Venezuela to Disclose Election Results, Condemn Violence and Repression Brazil and Colombia Urge Venezuela to Disclose Electoral Results Amid Rising Tensions Nigerian Government Accredits Eight Foreign Universities for Degree Conferral