Republicans Slam Biden and 'Brutal Cuban Dictatorship'

A number of Republicans have joined forces to release a statement, condemning the Biden administration over its decision to ease sanctions against Cuba. Florida Senators Marco Rubio (R), Rick Scott (R) and Florida Reps. Carlos A. Gimenez (R), Mario Diaz-Balart (R) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R) issued the joint statement. In it, the Republican lawmakers criticized both the Biden administration and the "brutal Cuban dictatorship."

In the statement, the lawmakers expressed that "during Cuba’s historic anti-regime protests last year, President Biden said '[t]he United States stands with the brave Cubans who have taken to the streets to oppose 62 years of repression under a communist regime.'

"Yet today, while hundreds of activists remain unlawfully imprisoned, the White House is resurrecting President Obama’s failed policy of unilateral concessions to the Castro/Díaz-Canel criminal dictatorship.

The lawmakers added that "rather than supporting their pleas for freedom by expanding democracy programming, broadcasting, global diplomacy, and sanctions against their oppressors, the Biden White House is rewarding the Western Hemisphere’s longest-ruling communist dictatorship with high-level talks, easing sanctions, increased travel, and access to U.S. financial institutions."

Similar to comments expressed by Senator Scott this week, the GOP members argued that the Biden administration is just "appeasing Cuba’s murderous regime," which is an effort they argue "does not comply with the statutory requirements in U.S. law and undercuts America’s support for Cuba’s democratic opposition."

Further chiding the Biden administration for its decision, they affirmed that the president's "repeated appeasement to the Cuban dictatorship is a betrayal of America’s commitment to human rights and freedom, and to the longsuffering Cuban people who are struggling for a genuine democratic transition."

The announcement to ease sanctions has received widespread criticism from Republicans across the country.

Coinciding with the announcement, it was also reported that the United States has authorized American investments in private Cuban businesses.