The Unforeseen Consequences of America's Dealings with a Nicaraguan Dictator.

The recent release of 222 political prisoners from Nicaragua to the United States has highlighted the limits of U.S. power in promoting democracy and human rights in Latin America. The Biden administration has vowed to keep up the pressure on Nicaragua, but the regime of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, has shown little willingness to change. The release of the prisoners could be a sign of dissension within the ruling ranks, but diaspora-led opposition movements are rarely successful, and there is no one to lead a popular uprising inside Nicaragua. Meanwhile, China and Russia are making inroads in the region, and other democracies in Latin America are also facing challenges.