Nicaragua breaks diplomatic ties with Italy over extradition of Red Brigades member convicted in Aldo Moro murder

A decades-old extradition dispute

Alessio Casimirri, a former member of the far-left Red Brigades, was convicted in Italy and sentenced to six life terms for his role in the 1978 kidnapping and murder of former prime minister Aldo Moro and his security escort. Moro, a leader of the Christian Democrats, was abducted in Rome in March 1978 and found dead in the trunk of a car two months later. Casimirri fled to Nicaragua, where he later obtained citizenship and has lived under the protection of the government in Managua. Italy has repeatedly requested his extradition, but Nicaragua has refused.

Tajani's remarks and Managua's reaction

On Wednesday, 15 July, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani addressed a European People's Party summit in Madrid. He said Italy "does not share anything with the vision of extremist governments like that of Nicaragua, a country that still gives protection to dangerous Red Brigades terrorists." He specifically named Casimirri. Overnight, the Italian embassy in Managua received a protest letter from the Nicaraguan government. On Thursday, Nicaragua's foreign ministry published a statement on the official digital newspaper El 19 Digital, announcing the intention to break off all diplomatic relations with Italy. The ministry called Tajani's comments "unjustified, aggressive and irresponsible" and an insult to the Nicaraguan people and government, delivered with "European arrogance."

In light of the unjustified, aggressive and irresponsible statements made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, Antonio Tajani, who insulted, in violation of every norm of respect for relations between peoples and governments, with European arrogance, the people and government of Nicaragua, as a tangible expression of our sovereignty and national dignity, we inform the Italian government, and in particular Minister Antonio Tajani, of our intention to break off all diplomatic relations with the Italian government.

Italy stands firm

Italy's foreign ministry responded by reiterating its call for Casimirri's extradition. In a statement, Tajani said Italy would continue to demand that Casimirri answer to Italian justice for the crimes of which he has been convicted. He noted that the European Parliament had already adopted a resolution supporting the extradition request. Tajani added that Italy's foreign policy is based on respect for international law, dialogue, and democratic values, and that Rome remains open to engagement with all countries while defending justice, freedom, and legality.

Italy will continue to demand that Casimirri answer to the Italian justice system for the crimes of which he has been found guilty, as has already been requested in a European Parliament resolution.

European Parliament and Italian MEPs weigh in

The European Parliament recently approved a resolution condemning the Nicaraguan government and demanding Casimirri's extradition, with broad support including from the socialist group. Carlo Fidanza, head of the Fratelli d'Italia delegation and vice-president of the EuroLat assembly, called the Ortega-Murillo government a "criminal regime" and said it should account for its own crimes rather than break ties with Italy. He cited the repression of dissent, persecution of clergy, arbitrary detentions of opponents, and violations of the rule of law. Nicola Procaccini, co-president of the ECR group and former mayor of Terracina, a city where Moro was an honorary citizen, said the break in relations must not weaken the pursuit of justice. He described the extradition request as a moral, legal, and institutional duty to the memory of all victims of terrorism.

The criminal regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, which for years has held the people of Nicaragua imprisoned in a ruthless dictatorship, should account for its own crimes rather than break off diplomatic relations with Italy, which legitimately demands the extradition of the terrorist Casimirri.

What comes next

Nicaragua's announcement marks a sharp deterioration in bilateral ties, but the practical consequences remain unclear. Italy has not indicated any reciprocal measures, and its embassy in Managua continues to operate. The extradition request remains a central point of contention, with Rome insisting it will not relent. The diplomatic break, if carried out, would be the first between the two countries in recent history.