US says it will use regional body to isolate Nicaragua | Politics News
U.S. to Utilize OAS to Counter Nicaragua’s Political Reforms
By Umar Farooq
Published September 2, 2026
The United States plans to engage with the Organization of American States (OAS) to diplomatically isolate the Nicaraguan government following recent constitutional amendments that critics argue effectively dismantle the nation’s democratic framework.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement Wednesday, asserting that Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and co-President Rosario Murillo are conducting a “war on democracy” that poses a threat to stability and prosperity throughout the region. Rubio highlighted the U.S. intention to encourage member countries of the OAS to cease “business as usual” with Nicaragua during an upcoming meeting.
The Biden administration’s remarks follow the passage on Tuesday of a constitutional reform package by Nicaraguan lawmakers. This legislation is expected to severely restrict the participation of opposition parties in elections and extend the presidential term from six to seven years. Such measures have already attracted criticism from the U.S. and neighboring countries.
Last month, the OAS declared the evolving situation in Nicaragua to be “of urgent nature and of common interest to the American States,” and called for a meeting to address these concerns.
Nicaragua previously withdrew from the OAS in 2022, amidst ongoing criticism regarding its human rights record. Following the withdrawal, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada stated that the nation would no longer be involved in “all the deceitful mechanisms” associated with the OAS, a process that was finalized in 2023.
Founded in 1948 with U.S. support, the OAS aims to foster international cooperation in the Western Hemisphere. Venezuela began its withdrawal from the organization in 2017 after facing similar criticism for its handling of civil unrest. Former President Nicolas Maduro denounced the OAS as an “interventionist coalition” led by the U.S.
In July, the Nicaraguan government, under Ortega, introduced a draft constitutional amendment package aimed at eliminating what it labels “traitors” and “coup-plotting” opposition members from electoral processes. Additionally, the proposal includes measures to dissolve political parties receiving foreign funding.
“There won’t be any more elections here for them to try to seize the government and seize power,” Ortega stated in July, remarking on the proposed changes during an event commemorating the 1979 Sandinista revolution, which marked his ascent to power.
Ortega, a key figure in the Sandinista movement that overthrew the U.S.-backed Somoza dictatorship, has been the longest-serving leader in the Western Hemisphere since his return to power in 2007. He previously held the presidency from 1985 until 1990.
The government’s repressive tactics have faced significant backlash since student-led protests erupted in 2018, with more than 300 individuals reportedly killed in the ensuing crackdown. Ortega’s administration has since imprisoned numerous political opponents and journalists, forcing many into exile, with at least 200 settling in the United States.
