The Nicaraguan government has expelled the EU ambassador, Bettina Muscheidt, and declared her 'persona non grata' for 'interfering with national sovereignty'. The EU has rejected this decision and promised to react 'firmly and appropriately'. The Ortega government has also broken off diplomatic relations with the Netherlands. The EU, US government, and some European countries had previously imposed sanctions on members of the Nicaraguan government for undermining human rights and democracy.