U.S. Acting Envoy Returns to Washington After Nicaragua Rejects Ambassador Nominee

Elias Baumann, the acting United States envoy in Nicaragua, returned to Washington for "critical consultations" after the Nicaraguan government rejected the State Department's nominee, Natasha Franceschi, for ambassador. The decision was made jointly by President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, who criticized the United States for what they called a hypocritical stance and political theater that disadvantages Nicaraguans.

The U.S. has previously claimed that security personnel from an unnamed non-hemispheric nation are training Nicaraguan police and sharing intelligence. Nicaragua, meanwhile, continues security cooperation agreements with Russia and China. Ortega has repeatedly accused the United States of meddling in domestic affairs through regional bodies such as the Central American Parliament and the Organization of American States. The Nicaraguan presidency did not respond to a request for comment.