Nicaragua: Ortega Withdraws from OAS; Plans Full Sovereignty Exit by September

MANAGUA — Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega announced the country’s formal withdrawal from the Organization of American States (OAS), calling the hemispheric body an instrument of U.S. imperialism. The move, which Ortega said would be completed by September, follows years of tensions between Managua and the OAS over human rights concerns and democratic governance. The Nicaraguan foreign ministry submitted a formal notification to the OAS secretariat, triggering a two-year withdrawal process under the organization’s charter. Ortega accused the OAS of interfering in Nicaragua’s internal affairs and said the country would pursue “full sovereignty” without external oversight. The withdrawal mirrors similar moves by Venezuela, which left the OAS in 2023, and signals a deepening rift between leftist governments in Latin America and Washington-backed multilateral institutions. Regional analysts warned the exit could further isolate Nicaragua economically and diplomatically.

Sources: Reuters, AP, Bangkok Post, The Nation Thailand, BBC, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, Nikkei Asia, UN OCHA

Written by Diego Vargas, Latin America Correspondent