US Representative Carlos Giménez (R-FL) penned a bill that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to execute an investigation into national security threats posed by Cuba.
Cuba has faced increased public scrutiny during President Joe Biden’s administration as the island has hosted Russian warships, housed Chinese military, and infiltrated spies into the US.
Representative Giménez fled Cuba’s communist regime prior to entering American politics and has opposed President Biden’s reconciliatory Cuba approach.
Gimenez introduced his bipartisan bill hours before President Donald Trump directly assured him he would revert Biden’s Cuba foreign policy strategy.
🚨NEWS —> Thank you President Trump for ALWAYS standing on the side of the freedom-loving people of #Cuba as the brutal Communist regime in Havana welcomes Russian warships into America’s backyard.
We know you have OUR back!
TRUMP 2024! 🙏🏻🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/dWSDitRg7R
— Carlos A. Gimenez (@CarlosGimenezFL) July 19, 2024
The intensity of US and Cuba’s adversarial relationship has ebbed and flowed since the Cold War.
The latest Cuba-US crisis arose in early June after Russian vessels, including a nuclear submarine, docked in Cuban ports.
Russian vessels departed Cuba after performing various military exercises.
Another crisis developed after reports emerged of plans for a potential Chinese military base in Cuba.
Florida Republicans, Gimenez among them, quickly voiced their concerns regarding the national security threat posed by Chinese military presence less than 100 miles from our borders.
Florida Senator Rick Scott blamed the current president, stating that “The Biden administration's weak appeasement policies have emboldened evil regimes like never before.”
Adding to conservative anger was the arrest of former US Ambassador to Bolivia Victor Manuel Rocha for espionage.
Ambassador Rocha was arrested after an FBI counterintelligence operation gathered substantial evidence pointing to Rocha’s involvement with Cuban intelligence services.
Rocha allegedly referred to his work for Cuba as “a grand slam” and praised past Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro as the “Comandante.”
