Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega on Saturday ruled out taking of military action against Colombia after meeting with his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos to discuss a recent world court ruling granting Nicaragua Caribbean waters claimed by both countries.
The two leaders met briefly in Mexico City where both men are attending the inauguration of President Enrique Peña.
Ortega told press that he and Santos agreed to “open communication channels that will secure the right to fish for the Raizal people,” who live on the Colombian islands of San Andres and Providencia and are most affected by the ruling that reduced territory in which Colombian fishermen can fish.
The Nicaraguan head of state said that “any military action” in response to Colombia’s rejection of the ruling “is completely ruled out.” According to Ortega, the two countries have “nor problem in that sense.”
Santos said Thursday that his country refused to abide to the binding and unappealable ruling of the International Court of Justice and would maintain military presence in waters officially belonging to Nicaragua after the November 19 ruling.