Ortega Offers Support to Maduro Amid Election Disputes

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega pledged to send 'Sandinista fighters' to support Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro amid fears of an 'armed counter-revolution' following a disputed presidential election on July 28. Maduro's claim of victory has been met with widespread protests and allegations of electoral fraud, leading to violent crackdowns by his security forces, which have resulted in at least 25 deaths and over 2,400 detentions. During a virtual summit of the Bolivarian Alliance, Ortega criticized other Latin American leaders, particularly Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombia's Gustavo Petro, for not recognizing Maduro's victory. Ortega suggested that external forces, including Colombian mercenaries, could interfere in Venezuela, indicating a readiness for conflict. He emphasized solidarity among leftist leaders in defending the Bolivarian revolution, reminiscent of past struggles in Nicaragua. Ortega's comments have raised concerns about further destabilization in the region and the potential for increased violence in Venezuela.