Cuba Protests Trigger Venezuela Reprisal Against Guiado, Opposition

The protests taking place in Cuba against the Cuban dictatorship have generated demonstrations in the United States, showing support for the Cuban people and the movement. However, Republicans and Democrats find themselves at odds yet again regarding the response to Venezuela’s own dictatorship as Maduro's regime begins its reprisal against Guaido and his opposition party.

In a tweet, Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) shared that the Venezuelan dictatorship has been closely watching the protests taking place in Cuba, which has resulted in kidnapping oppositional leaders so as not to face the same response from the Venezuelan people. In turn, Rubio shared that it’s disappointing to see the Biden administration attempt to remove sanctions while the dictatorship is trying to silence individuals seeking democracy for the country.

In early February, President Joe Biden (D) said that he was in “no rush” to lift U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, but it would consider loosening them “if President Nicolas Maduro takes confidence-building steps showing he is ready to negotiate seriously with the opposition” said a White House official speaking to Reuters. In June, the Biden administration also rejected a call from Maduro to loosen restrictions, arguing that “the Venezuelan leader needs to do more toward restoring democracy before penalties would be lifted.”

In contrast, Senator Rubio took to Twitter to express that sentiment, has now changed as the Biden administration is alleged to have moved forward with “authorizing certain transactions involving the exportation or reexportation of liquefied petroleum gas to Venezuela.”

“At the very moment the Maduro Regime was abducting one prominent member of the opposition & surrounding the home Juan Guaido trying to abduct him the Biden Administration was announcing it was removing a sanction on the regime in Venezuela,” Rubio reported.

During the Trump administration, Guaido was acknowledged as the true President of Venezuela, and the “prominent member of the opposition” that was kidnapped is Freddy Guevara.