Daniel Ortega: The United States, with all its wealth, has used it only to sow death and suffering. It could have used that wealth to help these people fight poverty, end hunger

Remarks by Commander Daniel, Co-President of Nicaragua,
Main Ceremony Commemorating the 47th Anniversary of the Founding of the Nicaraguan Army,
September 2, 2026

Good afternoon, Nicaraguan brothers and sisters. Today, September 2nd, we are commemorating the 47th Anniversary of the Nicaraguan Army. For 47 years, we, the People's Army, have succeeded in defeating the aggressions that have been launched time and again against our homeland, seeking to end the Independence, Self-Determination, Freedom, and Democracy of the Nicaraguan people.

How many battles, how many struggles, how much sacrifice, how much pain, in the families of the brothers and sisters who have given their lives, in the face of the mercenaries, in the face of the invaders, and they have not succeeded, and have not been able, nor will they be able, to end the sovereignty, the peace, which is a blessing from God for the Nicaraguan people.

And in this month of September, which is the month of historical dates and heroic battles, this is the month in which on September 15th the Independence of Central America was signed and declared, in the year 1821.

We declared independence; the Nicaraguan brothers who fought alongside their Central American brothers declared independence so that Central America could finally be free from the Spanish yoke. But then, they tried to dominate our countries, they tried to impose imperialist rule, when they decreed that America belonged to the United States; that is, speaking of all the countries of the Latin American region, not just Central America.

And that battle continues, that battle continues, and here in Nicaragua we continue to fight it. Thanks to the unity we have had, the cohesion, the firmness, the dignity of the Nicaraguan people, the Nicaraguan Army, the Nicaraguan Police, and the institutions, we have managed to navigate through the storm.

Because when we had finally achieved a State of Peace in Nicaragua, the storm came, and then, how many years to recover Peace again, the Peace that is fundamental for all the Institutions of any State to be developed and strengthened.

A State needs Peace, so that Housing can be built, so that Hospitals can be built, so that Scholarship Programs, completely free of charge, for Higher Education can be developed, just as we are doing now.

And as we said some time ago, we must always be vigilant. Why? Because the enemy that our people have is an enemy that, simply because it is a global military power, feels entitled to attack people anywhere in the world, provoking global crises. We see this in the resistance of the American government to finding peace with the heroic people of Iran. And as long as there is no peace, there will be war there, because the heroic people of Iran are a people who do not surrender or sell out.

And that impacts the world economy, it impacts the economy of all our nations, it impacts the economy of the United States of America itself, it causes unrest among the American people, because they feel that these wars are ultimately paid for by the American people, and the prices of products become more expensive there in the United States.

These wars also demand sacrifice from American youth. They are forced to join the Army and participate in Army missions that involve attacks on other countries, other nations, other peoples, causing suffering.

In other words, the United States, with all its wealth, has used it only to sow death and suffering. It could have used that wealth to help these people fight poverty, end hunger, and end the desperate situation of thousands upon thousands of our brothers and sisters throughout this region, who, in their desperation, unable to find a way to survive in their own countries, have no alternative but to seek the so-called American Dream, and they make great sacrifices to travel to the United States.

There we have Nicaraguan brothers as immigrants, many of them are trapped and detained; because after they have been exploited there in the United States, now measures are being taken against immigrants to detain them and report them back to their countries.

In this way, hundreds, even thousands, of Nicaraguans have been returning from the United States to Nicaragua, and naturally we receive them as brothers and look for ways for them to join in economic, social, and productive activities, because in Nicaragua we have achieved that, as General Avilés pointed out.

Of course, for productive activities to develop in the way they have been developing, marking growth in the Nicaraguan economy, that is only possible with Peace, and Peace is guaranteed with an Army that has a Vocation for Service, a Vocation for Peace and that is Heir to General Sandino.

Likewise, this September marks the glorious anniversary of Walker's defeat. Walker came to fulfill the American dream, to seize Nicaragua first and then all of Central America. And that is why, naturally, the courage and dignity of Nicaraguan brothers and sisters, led by General José Dolores Estrada, and with Andrés throwing the final stone, stood against Walker, bringing down the invading Yankee.

We also managed to get people from Central American towns, especially from neighboring towns; Honduran brothers, Costa Rican brothers, Salvadoran brothers came to join the fight against Walker, because they also understood that Walker was not staying in Nicaragua, but that he was going to go after all of Central America.

These are dates we do not forget and that we commemorate here in Nicaragua, and what better and greater commemoration than this Act on the 47th Anniversary of the Nicaraguan Army, where, as General Julio César Avilés has explained, everything that the Army has been carrying out, a work that the Army has been developing, not only that fundamental work of protecting the sovereignty of the country, but also supporting the activity of Nicaraguan producers, of Nicaraguan farmers.

We've seen them at assemblies and meetings in different municipalities across Nicaragua where agricultural and livestock activities are taking place. The army is there accompanying the producers, and the producers are happy because they feel protected and can carry out their work without any danger or risk, because they are accompanied by the army, and of course, the police are also doing their job.

But today, September 2nd, one day after the last thing General Avilés [Commander-in-Chief of the Nicaraguan Army] mentioned, one day later, where he fully expressed his support for the decision of the National Assembly to make Reforms in the Constitution.

Because this Constitution had not been thoroughly reformed and contained a series of articles and conditions that actually facilitated aggression against our people, the subjugation of the Nicaraguan people. And that was a task, a battle waged by the people of Nicaragua, who have stood alongside the leadership of the National Assembly headed by our brother, Dr. Gustavo Porras.

Well, it was intense work, with impressive participation, in all the consultations held by the Assembly. Because, you see how important this is, this is a reform that is carried out by consulting the people, and the people supporting it, and precisely yesterday, September 1st, in honor of the Heroes of September, in honor of Rubén Darío, in honor of Rigoberto López Pérez, the reform was approved.

For a Reform to become a Law of the Republic, it must go through two stages: First, the approval of the Law, and then, the Law continues to be submitted to the Assembly and also to the People, continuing to be submitted for knowledge and support, so that people really know what this Reform means.

And on January 18th, the Second Session would take place, where the Assembly would definitively approve the Constitutional Reform. This Reform, of course, prioritizes Nicaragua's sovereignty, which is what we must protect most, and in this, the Nicaraguan Army naturally plays a crucial role.

And you, dear brothers and sisters, both those of you present here, and those serving in various roles throughout our country, in border areas, others sailing the seas on patrol duties—all of you, brothers and sisters of the Nicaraguan Army, accompanied by your families and the people, you are a force that naturally provides security and confidence to the people. Because you know that this is an army that stands with the people, to defend the people, to serve the people, which is to serve Nicaragua.

Our congratulations on this 47th Anniversary to all the comrades who have been promoted, and to all the comrades who have remained steadfast in the Army. And of course, we also recognize that we have Heroes and Martyrs, comrades who have given their lives throughout these 47 years, and who are therefore present here with us.

It is true that they are in another Plane of Life, but they are with us here, they accompany this Army, and this raises the morale of the Soldiers, the Officers, and the People. That is why we have said countless times that we cannot forget the Heroes, those who gave their lives in defense of our Sovereignty.

For our part, we will logically continue to strengthen the Nicaraguan Army, through its Commander-in-Chief, General Julio César Avilés. Because we are also convinced that we must always guarantee the minimum conditions for the survival of our soldiers.

Moreover, considering that we are in a period—it seems so—of natural disasters, of floods, of earthquakes. Nicaragua has already experienced several earthquakes, and we always have to be ready, and the Army is always there too. Why? To protect and safeguard the population in high-risk situations when these natural phenomena occur.

You, dear brothers and sisters, have known how to give your lives for the Nicaraguan people, and we are sure that this willingness, which is truly a strength that comes from Christ, that comes from God, is what allows us to say to those who want to threaten us and who constantly threaten us: Here is a people and an army that will neither sell out nor surrender, never!

Long live the Nicaraguan Army on its 47th Anniversary!

Sandino Lives, the Struggle Continues!

Free Homeland or Death!