Russia will deliver 50 new T-72B1 battle tanks to Nicaragua this year, in a deal worth some US $80 million, according to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency and Nicaraguan media.

The first batch of 20 tanks is ready for shipment, and the remaining 30 are to be delivered by the end of the year or early 2017, according to the report.

The armaments add to a string of military hardware acquired by Nicaragua from Russia in recent years, including 12 anti-aircraft autocannons in 2013, a batch of GAZ-2330 Tiger armored infantry vehicles in 2012, and two Mi-17V-5 helicopters in 2009.

Sputnik also reported that Russia and Nicaragua were moving forward with a plan to supply the Nicaraguan Navy with two modern Molnia-class missile ships at a cost of US $45 million each.

Nicaragua’s intentions to obtain at least a dozen Russian Yak-130 fighter jets and MIG-29 fighter-bombers were also revealed last year. MIG-29’s come with a price tag of about US $29 million each, according to defense experts.

Meanwhile, it is not clear if the new Russian battle tanks were purchased through credit, cash, or perhaps a Russian military donation, though military officials on both sides have said that the delivery of the new battle tanks are part of ongoing “military cooperation” between the two countries.

 

Concerns in the region and abroad

Colonel Manuel Guevara Rocha, a spokesman for the Nicaraguan Army, told reporters that the new Russian tanks were part of a “modernization plan” to replace military equipment that has exceeded its useful life.

But security expert, Roberto Cajina, speaking to Nicaragua’s Confidencial newspaper, questioned the need and purpose of the new battle tanks.

Cajina described the acquisition of the T-72 battle tanks as “inexplicable” and an “irresponsible waste,” because the tanks have no value in terms of defense, but are instead hardware designed for conventional wars between nations and states and there is no evidence in the short, medium or long-term that Nicaragua is headed toward international war.

Cajina said that it is absurd for the Nicaraguan army to arm itself for war when the trend is that inter-state conflicts are resolved by way of international courts of law.

For her part, the United States ambassador in Nicaragua, Laura Dogu said on Tuesday that the United States is seeking more information on the acquisition of the battle tanks.

“We have read the reports of the Russian tanks and obviously we are looking for more information at this time,” Nicaragua’s La Prensa quoted the ambassador.

Also on Tuesday, Costa Rican Foreign Minister, Manuel Gonzalez, expressed his concerns regarding the shipment, calling it a concern for Central America.

“What we need [in Central America] are not weapons of war, what we need in the region is to fight poverty with education, better health, more technology, and better infrastructure,” Gonzalez told the daily La Nacion.

 

Growing Russia-Nicaragua ties

Russia has increased its ties to regional foes of the United States in recent years, specifically Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Cuba.

In July 2014, Russian president Vladimir Putin made the first visit of a Russian president to Nicaragua, where he met with his Nicaraguan counterpart, Daniel Ortega.

Earlier that year, then Russian Defense Minister, Sergey Shoygu said that Russia was making plans to expand its military in the region by establishing military and naval bases in Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba, a proposal that was strongly condemned by Costa Rica at the time.

Already, Russian warships dock in Nicaraguan ports while its fighter jets land in Managua; and Nicaraguan and Russian vessels perform joint patrols in the waters of the Caribbean, according to an IPS report last year.