Nicaragua has officially left the Organization of American States (OAS) after completing a two-year exit process. The Nicaraguan government is celebrating this departure, as they believe it removes them from an organization tied to the wishes of the United States. However, the US is considering applying new sanctions against the Ortega regime, while opposition leaders in Nicaragua congratulated Javier Milei on his electoral victory in Argentina.

In 2018, anti-government protests resulted in about 300 deaths according to human rights organizations, leading to questions surrounding the OAS’s performance. Nicaragua’s Foreign Minister Denis Moncada stated that Nicaragua has ceased to be a member of the OAS because it perceived the organization as an “interference” organization, tied to the United States. The OAS issued a statement urging Nicaragua to “respect all human rights,” and Human Rights Watch warned that Nicaragua’s decision to leave does not exonerate them from their human rights obligations.

Several exiled Nicaraguan opposition leaders congratulated La Libertad Avanza candidate Javier Milei on his victory in Argentina’s presidential elections. Opposition leaders expressed their hope that Argentines can finally find “the path of development.” Meanwhile, US ambassador to the OAS Francisco Mora said Washington is considering applying new “political and economic” sanctions on the Nicaraguan regime to force them to fulfill their commitments regarding human rights and democracy. Mora emphasized that these sanctions will not negatively affect the Nicaraguan population but will pressure the government without harming its citizens.