The Cuban-American representative, María Elvira Salazar, raised alarms on Tuesday in the U.S. Congress regarding China's $500 million investment in the Punta Huete airport in Nicaragua. This facility is capable of accommodating strategic bombers that could potentially reach Washington D.C. within a mere three-hour flight.
Salazar issued this warning during a session of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, which she chaired. The hearing, titled "Confronting the Totalitarian Ortega-Murillo Regime," included testimony from a State Department official.
Displaying images of the project, Salazar directly challenged the administration on whether it is taking action to counter what she described as a persistent threat. "Beijing is expanding its reach in our backyard," Salazar stated. "China is pouring hundreds of millions into Punta Huete, a Nicaraguan airbase capable of hosting strategic bombers. A Chinese bomber stationed there could reach Washington D.C. in three hours."
She noted the Chinese Xian H-6 bomber—similar to the American B-2—as a model that could potentially operate from this airstrip, along with Russian strategic bombers.
According to data from Infobae, the total investment amounts to $517.6 million, funded 80% by a Chinese loan at a 5.2% interest rate over 15 years, executed by the Chinese state-owned company CAMCE.
The proposed runway is categorized as 4F, measuring 3,600 meters in length and 60 meters in width, suitable for wide-body aircraft and potentially large military planes. The project's completion is anticipated by October 2028.
Salazar highlighted the geographical proximity, noting that "Managua is closer to Miami, the city I represent, than to Los Angeles." Punta Huete is situated approximately 60 kilometers north of the Nicaraguan capital.
Officially, the project is presented as an international cargo and passenger airport with a capacity for 3.5 million travelers annually. However, Salazar dismissed this portrayal: "This is a beachhead that our adversaries will have very close to us."
The concern is not new. Punta Huete's runway was originally built by the Soviet Union in the 1980s for strategic bombers during the Sandinista era, reinforcing interpretations of its potential dual-use under the current Chinese project.
This strategic penetration pattern in the hemisphere includes Cuba, where Washington has pointed out Chinese signal intelligence facilities in locations such as Bejucal, Wajay, Calabazar, and El Salao, capable of intercepting military communications and monitoring activities in the southeastern United States.
The Cuban regime consistently denies the existence of these bases.
In May, the U.S. warned of increasing Russian and Chinese espionage from Cuba, and Salazar has repeatedly linked Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua as part of an authoritarian bloc threatening regional security.
The legislator acknowledged the administration is "closely watching and deeply concerned" about the project but emphasized that the matter should be discussed in a classified setting. Her message to the State Department was clear: "We must stop this before it becomes permanent."
U.S. Concerns Over Chinese Investment in Nicaragua
Why is the U.S. concerned about China's investment in Nicaragua?
The U.S. is concerned because the investment is in an airbase capable of hosting strategic bombers, potentially allowing China to project military power close to the U.S.
What is the significance of the Punta Huete airport?
Punta Huete airport is significant due to its ability to accommodate large military aircraft, including potential strategic bombers, posing a direct security threat to the U.S.
How is the project funded?
The project is funded 80% by a Chinese loan at a 5.2% interest rate over 15 years, managed by the Chinese state-owned CAMCE company.