Russian, Nicaraguan defense ministers meet in Moscow

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that its head Andrey Belousov met Nicaraguan counterpart Julio Cesar Aviles Castillo in Moscow.

Greeting Castillo, Belousov said the Russo-Nicaraguan military cooperation "has been tested by time."

"It is based on principles of trust, friendship, mutual respect and consideration for each other's interests. A lot of joint work has been done in this direction," he said.

Belousov congratulated members of the Nicaraguan delegation on the 46th anniversary of the establishment of the army of Nicaragua and Independence Day of the Republic, as well as expressed gratitude to the Nicaraguan military delegation for their participation in the military exercises Zapad-2025.

"In turn, General Julio Cesar Aviles Castillo greeted the head of the Russian defense department on behalf of the people of the Republic of Nicaragua and its armed forces, separately from co-president Daniel Ortega and co-president Rosario Murillo," the statement read.

During the meeting, both sides discussed issues of interaction between the defense departments of the two countries, as well as current aspects of regional security.