Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) is demanding answers from the Biden administration. The South Florida Republican is questioning the administration, arguing that it’s employing a vindictive Latin American foreign policy.
Salazar is the Chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. As such, Salazar chaired a hearing with the intention of questioning the Biden administration for enacting an “alarming and vindictive Latin American foreign policy” according to a press release from her office.
A sharp critic of President Joe Biden (D), Salazar accuses the president of “cozying up to dictators while ignoring our allies in the region.”
During the hearing, Salazar commented that “President Joe Biden has taken every opportunity to ignore our allies in Latin America,” adding that “this budget doesn’t reflect that: Your actions show that you have ignored our allies to the benefit of our enemies.”
Several State Department officials took part of the hearing, which included Mr. Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Mr. Todd Robinson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State; Ms. Julieta Valls Noys, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, U.S. Department of State; and Ms. Marcela Escobari, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, U.S. Agency for International Development.
In recent months, Salazar has sounded the alarm on several concerns related to Latin America. She has urged the Biden administration to extend a hand to Guatemala. Moreover, when Colombian President Gustavo Petro visited the United States, she questioned him on his political stance, warning that his far-Left views are dangerous.
During the hearing, Salazar expressed her deep concern for the Biden administration’s approach to Latin American concerns, warning that “ignoring our allies in Latin America is a vacuum that is being filled by China, Russia, and Iran.”
