A little known area of tension that could break into war
The government of Columbia threatened Nicaragua with a naval battle if Nicaragua persisted in attempts to explore for oil near San Andes islands. A treaty in 1928, made the islands, which are 640 kilometers off Colombias north coast and 195 kilometers off Nicaraguas east coast, part of Colombia. But now Nicaragua is insisting that the treaty is not valid. If it came to a fight, it would be no contest. Nicaraguas navy consists of five elderly Russian patrol boats. Colombia has 27 more modern patrol boats, four heavily armed corvettes and four subs, plus superior airpower.