China delivered 100 public buses to Nicaragua on Saturday in a high-profile nighttime ceremony in Managua, strengthening ties with the government of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo. The donation is part of a growing aid package following Nicaragua’s 2021 diplomatic shift from Taiwan to China.

Chinese ambassador Chen Xi emphasized the gift came with “no political conditions,” while hinting at future cooperative projects. Ortega, in a lengthy speech, thanked the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping, and used the event to lash out at Western powers, accusing the EU of “arming” Ukraine and invoking Nazi comparisons.

The buses, meant to bolster public transport for working families, were presented as a symbol of friendship and development. Meanwhile, Ortega and Murillo face mounting criticism and sanctions from the U.S. and EU over authoritarian practices and human rights violations. Critics have accused the couple of running a dynastic regime since Ortega returned to power in 2007.

The event, attended by around 200 supporters, also commemorated the 130th anniversary of national hero Augusto C. Sandino, a key figure in Nicaragua’s anti-imperialist history.