What about sanctions in Nicaragua?16 May 2026 19:44
I mean I know there are other mine operators but I also know that Trump is hostile to the country's leaders. It is already cracking down on Cuba and it views Nicaragua with the same perspective. The country already has sanctions imposed on it by the USA but what if the USA tightens sanctions so much that it would make it illegal for international companies to operate there?
At present, Nicaragua is not yet under a Cuba-style full US embargo. The current US framework is more targeted: OFAC can block specific officials, companies and sectors connected to the Ortega-Murillo regime. The key legal danger is that gold/mining is already singled out. Executive Order 14088 allows sanctions on persons who “operate or have operated in the gold sector” of Nicaragua, and also allows the US to prohibit imports, exports, new US investment, and US facilitation in selected Nicaraguan sectors. The question is how far Trump’s Treasury would choose to go. Thoughts!?
I wish Metals Exploration would try to find a solution to their depleting project in the Philippines so it wouldn't be a one-trick pony - ideally they would have a satellite deposit to continue but the chances of this seem to be getting lower?