![A national protest march against the construction of a transoceanic canal in Nicaragua.](https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/nicaragua-ortega-china-canal-05132024-1.jpg?w=519&h=259&crop=1)
Last week, Nicaragua canceled its deal with a Chinese company to build and manage a canal that stretches across Central America, ending a decade-long saga. Despite this development, China’s influence in Nicaragua has never been greater, in large part due to the diplomatic isolation of President Daniel Ortega’s autocratic government.