The Nicaraguan government has decided to stop allowing Cuban nationals to enter the country without visas, aiming to cut off pathways for Cuban migrants trying to reach the United States. For years, many Cubans arrived in Nicaragua, where they would connect with smugglers and travel north through Central America and Mexico to get to the U.S. border.
Recently, however, the Nicaraguan government announced the suspension of the visa exemption for Cubans. This decision coincides with an executive order from President Donald Trump, issued in late January, which characterized the Nicaraguan regime as colluding with foreign adversaries and terrorist organizations, retaliating against nations that provide oil to Cuba.
Guyana remains the primary destination for Cuban immigrants. Located in South America, it’s also a stepping stone for those aiming to reach the U.S. Some migrants from Guyana navigate the Darién Gap, a perilous stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama. In the past, desperate migrants have even taken unreliable boats from Cuba to the coast of Florida.
In his executive order, Trump emphasized that Cuba is intertwined with various hostile nations and transnational terrorist groups, specifically mentioning entities like Russia, China, and Iran. The order points out Cuba’s role as the site of Russia’s largest foreign signals intelligence operation, citing concerns about U.S. national security.
In November, Trump expressed on social media his worries about the democratic situation in Honduras. He posed a question about whether leaders like Maduro, known for their reigns in Cuba and Venezuela, might extend their control to other countries.
In early January, U.S. military operations led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
