Members of Donald Trump’s transition team have contacted one of the leading figures of Nicaragua’s opposition in a sign of openness to talks that may heal the divided exiled communities of Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela. Félix Maradiaga, the president of the Freedom Foundation in Nicaragua and a vocal critic of President Daniel Ortega, confirmed that he received a “courtesy call” from representatives of Trump “to open communication channels” with the new administration.

United Communities in Exile

 Maradiaga recounts that the transition team was elated to unite in exile the opposition of Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela, which were supposed to turn around and present a united front against “three similar dictatorships.” The intention is to strengthen these communities for maximum impact at a time when the US could encourage the spread of democracy in Latin America.(More)

“The message was: They want us to unify our positions in opposition to the regimes of Ortega, Díaz-Canel in Cuba, and Maduro in Venezuela,” Maradiaga said. The Trump administration’s overtures reflect a desire to realign Latin American foreign policy with the views of these exiled communities as part of their broader strategy in the region.

Future Collaboration on Policy and Security

Maradiaga says the administration will focus more on Latin American policy and security affairs as he gets ready to meet members of Trump’s teams involved in these issues. Through this outreach, the US might offer future support for opposition efforts in Latin America, where political repression and limited freedoms continue to drive citizens out of Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela.

Exiled and Ortega-jailed former presidential candidate Maradiaga has emerged as the face of exile Nicaraguan opposition. He was among 221 other opposition figures who were deported to the United States early in 2023 and was jailed since 2021 by Ortega. The simple fact that he is part of the opposition coalition Platform for Unity and Democracy places him squarely in the vanguard as a voice for Nicaraguan immigrants in the US.

Call to Action: Stand with Nicaraguan Refugees

 Aside from the political points, it beckons the Trump administration to stand in solidarity with these refugees who happen to be Nicaraguans fighting for survival against the oppression culture of the Ortega regime. Humane organizations indicate close to a million Nicaraguans have left the country since 2018, fearing oppression by the government and economic uncertainty.

Maradiaga reminded everyone of the need to assist Nicaraguan migrants, who risk everything once they leave their country. “We hope that the new administration will realize the continued need for humanitarian and policy support for these refugees,” he concluded.

Growing Concern over Democracy in Latin America

After all, Mr. Trump’s transition team’s outreach seems to demand growth in Latin American democratic concern and a will to confront authoritarianism at all costs across the region. The Trump advisers seem eager to engage Latin American opposition voices in shaping US policies that will counter these governments, signaling a more proactive posture toward foreign policy in the region.

The outreach by the Trump administration to the exiled communities in Latin America is indeed building up an integrated and strong posture against what it perceives as authoritarian regimes in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela.