MOSCOW, November 7. /TASS/. Russia rejects political pressure from the US and other Western countries and will counter their threats together with Nicaragua and other allies, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said.

"We reject the diktat and political pressure that is spreading across the world following the transition of Western nations led by the United States from diplomacy to blackmail and threats. Together with Nicaragua and other like-minded countries, we will counteract this and call out such behavior as unacceptable," Shoigu said at talks with Nicaraguan Army Commander-in-Chief Julio Cesar Aviles Castillo in Moscow.

The Russian minister suggested dedicating the talks to an in-depth discussion of existing and future collaboration projects in the military and military-technical areas.

"Russia is developing equitable cooperation with Nicaragua on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including in the defense area," he said. "We highly value bilateral collaboration on the international stage. Our countries share their views on key issues of global and regional security."

The minister also said that "the Republic of Nicaragua has been one of Russia's main strategic partners in Latin America since the time of the Sandinista National Liberation Front."