U.S. targets regime finances with gold and military sanctions

United States senators Ted Cruz and Tim Kaine have introduced a bill proposing to extend U.S. sanctions on Nicaragua's gold trade and military until 2035. This initiative targets key economic drivers of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo's regime, aiming for a potentially devastating impact on the nation's primary export, gold.

Gold generated $1.97 billion in 2025 and $899 million in the first quarter of 2026, making it Nicaragua's most significant export, even under previous U.S. sanctions. The proposed legislation, S. 5369, titled the "Restoration of Electoral Equity and Opposition Rights through Accountability Mandates Act of 2026," would also sanction sectors and individuals financing Russia and Iran. It specifically targets officials from the Military Social Security Institute, the financial arm of the Nicaraguan Army, which is accused of complicity in repression.

“

politically is very relevant the disposition of the Senate to give follow-up to the process of democratic transition.

The bill revives the 2018 NICA Act and stipulates that sanctions would only be lifted before 2035 if the U.S. president certifies concrete democratic advancements. These include internationally supervised elections, an end to police and paramilitary violence, and independent investigations into human rights violations. The Nicaraguan government must commit to competitive, free, and fair elections with credible international observation, cease violence against civilians, and investigate the killings of protesters from the 2018 demonstrations.

An opposition leader, released from prison in February 2023, described the Senate's commitment to monitoring Nicaragua's democratic transition as politically significant. This indicates Washington prioritizes change in Nicaragua and views a comprehensive, timed plan for an orderly transition, shared by the opposition with U.S. leadership, positively. The proposal also includes financial penalties for repression against Catholic Church leaders and the detention of political dissidents.

“

Washington sees as a priority the need for change in Nicaragua and that they have positively valued the proposal of a very complete and scheduled plan for an orderly transition, which a good part of the opposition has shared with the North American leadership.