Gregor Rosoff
Abstract: The Reagan Administration’s support for the Nicaraguan Contras can be described as controversial at best. Politically, it was a huge win for the United States’ fight against communism, but legally it served as nothing more than a headache. This piece analyzes the legality of the United States’ supplying of arms and materiel to the Nicaraguan Contras, as well as the fragility of the defense presented once American actions were brought before the United Nations and The Hague. The government of Nicaragua, led by Major General Anastasio Somoza was overthrown by left-wing rebels known as the Sandinistas. In response, the United States began to supply the Contras with equipment to mine the harbors along the coast of Nicaragua, severely damaging an already weakened economy. The issue was brought by Nicaragua to The International Court of Justice. Nicaragua argued that the United States violated the territorial sovereignty of Nicaragua, actively participated in activities that were killing and injuring Nicaraguan citizens, and that, contrary to American claims, its actions were un-warranted because the new government posed no threat to the United States. The counterargument presented by the United States was weak, arguing that the International Court of Justice had no jurisdiction over the area in question, and that the actions undertaken by the United States fell under existing collective security commitments. With the United States failing to present any concrete evidence to support the claim that Nicaragua posed a threat, the United States was singled out as the lone aggressor.
Keywords: Nicaragua, Reagan, Central America, International Law
