Nicaragua's most important, and most difficult, relationship has been with the USA. During the Sandinista years, the USA tried to overthrow the regime by providing military aid to the Contra rebels. Chamorro's 1990 election victory initially led to the resumption of US aid after years of blockade. The resurgent influence of the Sandinistas, however, led to US threats in 1993 to freeze $98 million of promised aid.
