Nicaraguan Security Policy. Trends and Projections

Abstract

This report considers the security challenges that Nicaragua might pose to U.S. interest in Central America in the years ahead. It begins with the assumption that the Sandinista regime will complete the process of political consolidation, with Soviet and Cuban assistance, relatively unhindered by the Contra resistance or U.S. policy, while Central America remains insecure. The analysis focuses on examining future Nicaraguan behavior in four areas: (1) support for revolutionary insurgency in the region, (2) support for international terrorism, (3) the development of Nicaragua's conventional military establishment, and (4) the ways in which the Soviet Union might attempt to use Nicaraguan bases and facilities to establish a military presence on the Central American mainland. The authors suggest that, it their assumptions hold true, Nicaragua is likely to pose a more serious and complex problem for U.S. interest in Central American than has heretofore been expected.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA213820

Entities

People

  • Brian Jenkins
  • David Ronfeldt
  • Edward Gonzalez
  • Gordon Mccormick

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Cyber
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artillery
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Costa Rica
  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • Geography
  • International Relations
  • Logistics
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • Naval Operations
  • Navy
  • Personnel Management
  • Political Systems
  • Terrorists
  • Treaties

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union