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During a long civil war, the Sandinista government of Nicaragua battled "Contra" paramilitary forces that received extensive U.S. assistance. After concluding that the U.S. CIA had mined its harbor, Nicaragua asked the International Court of Justice first for provisional measures and then for reparations.
When the United States disputed the court's jurisdiction, the ICJ determined that it had the authority to review Nicaragua's claim. The U.S. then refused to appear, and Nicaragua's evidence of extensive intervention went unanswered. The ICJ issued a provisonal order directing the U.S. to end further intervention and subsequently approved reparations.
