Central America

Nicaragua launches direct trade route with China to boost economic exchange

On Thursday, the Nicaraguan government inaugurated a direct trade route with China to enhance economic exchange between the two countries, according to official media sources.

The announcement took place at the port of Corinto, located on the Pacific coast about 150 km northwest of Managua. The cargo ship Sunny Fortune, registered under the Panamanian flag, arrived on Wednesday as the first of three monthly vessels scheduled under a commercial agreement with China.

Laureano Ortega, the presidential advisor responsible for Nicaragua-China relations and the son of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, led the event alongside Chinese and Nicaraguan officials. He described the development as “a significant milestone” for the Central American nation.

“This is a major achievement for our country, and we will continue working to ensure this is just the beginning of increased frequency and more operations,” Laureano Ortega said, according to the portal El19digital.

In addition to inaugurating the route, the Sunny Fortune delivered machinery for the construction of the Punta Huete International Airport, located north of Managua. This airport project was awarded to the Chinese company CAMC.

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In December 2023, China and Nicaragua agreed to elevate their relationship to a “strategic partnership” following a call between Ortega and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In January, Nicaragua and China launched a Free Trade Agreement.

Managua established diplomatic relations with China in 2021 after severing ties with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province that must be reunified, by force if necessary.

Since then, the world’s second-largest economy has supported the Nicaraguan government, which is facing sanctions from the United States and European countries following the 2018 protests against Ortega, which resulted in over 300 deaths according to the UN.

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Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.