Relationship dossier
Cuba
Nicaragua
Relationship assessment
Close political ties, with Cuban medical and educational cooperation and Nicaraguan diplomatic support for Cuba.
Cuba toward Nicaragua
+45Cuba has provided medical and educational cooperation to Nicaragua and has maintained close political engagement with Nicaraguan Sandinista governments. The scale and continuity of these programs are unclear.
Nicaragua toward Cuba
+45Nicaraguan governments have supported Cuba diplomatically, including backing calls to end the US embargo in international forums. Nicaragua has also maintained close political ties with Cuba.
Overall relationship
+50The relationship has a durable political foundation, reinforced by Cuban medical and educational assistance and Nicaraguan diplomatic support for Cuba. Shared regional initiatives complement these bilateral ties, although the scale and continuity of particular programs are unclear.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Cuba and Nicaragua have maintained a close political relationship, particularly under Nicaragua’s Sandinista governments. Cuban medical and educational cooperation has supported Nicaragua, while Nicaraguan governments have backed Cuba in international disputes, including over the US embargo. The relationship also reflects shared participation in regional cooperation initiatives, though the scope and continuity of specific bilateral programs are unclear.
Key developments
Nicaragua and Cuba restored diplomatic relations under Daniel Ortega’s government.
Major uncertainties
- The scale and continuity of Cuban medical and educational cooperation in Nicaragua are unclear.
- The extent of current bilateral programs and their implementation is unclear.