In an effort to hold the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua accountable for its oppressive rule, Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (R-Fla.) has called for Nicaragua to be removed from the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
“The murderous dictatorship in Nicaragua will have to face the maximum consequences for its countless crimes against humanity,” Rep. Gimenez expressed on X. “A dictatorship of this kind should have no place in the CAFTA, nor should it benefit from trade with the USA,” the Miami-Dade Republican affirmed, emphasizing that “it’s time to expel them.”
Ortega's Anti-Democratic Effort
Congressman Gimenez’s calls to apply economic pressure on the Central American nation come a month after Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega announced that the country would not hold future presidential elections.
“There should certainly be consequences regarding any free trade agreement we have with Nicaragua. The United States must defend democracy,” Rep. Gimenez argued.
CAFTA-DR
CAFTA-DR, signed in 2004 and implemented between 2006 and 2009, is the first free trade agreement between the U.S., Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, CAFTA-DR “promotes stronger trade and investment ties, prosperity, and stability throughout the region and along our Southern border.”
“Working together, our region can compete better,” the Office shared.
Could Nicaragua Be On The U.S.'s Hit List?
Economic pressure has been one of the many tools used by the U.S. government against oppressive and authoritarian regimes.
It’s been used against Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran in efforts to cripple the economies and the power of repressive governments within adversarial countries.
As the second Trump administration continues to intervene in the matters of authoritarian regimes, the question of whether or not Nicaragua is on the White House’s hit list is yet to be asked.
Amid Ortega’s recent anti-democratic effort, Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) previously alluded that after the U.S. is done with its campaigns in Iran and Cuba, Nicaragua could be toppled next.
