Florida’s national Republican lawmakers are seeking to apply diplomatic pressure on Cuba’s autocratic government.
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Representative Maria Elvira-Salazar (R-FL) proposed a resolution condemning Cuba and demanding action from the US government.
The resolution generally decries Cuba’s government for executing despotic and undemocratic acts.
Namely, the resolution cites Department of State and Non Governmental Organization (NGO) reports outlining abuses committed by the Cuban government.
Senator Rubio, whose parents fled Cuba during the island’s spiral into communism, claimed Cuba threatens US national security.
“Cuba is a safe haven for our foreign adversaries and the U.S. must counter this direct threat to our national security interests,” said Rubio.
Led a resolution demanding accountability for the Cuban regime’s heinous crimes.
Cuba is a safe haven for our foreign adversaries and the U.S. must counter this direct threat to our national security interests.https://t.co/upGHrc3Rln
— Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) August 12, 2024
Earlier this year, American media warned of Russian and Chinese military operations in Cuba, which sits less than 100 miles from the US mainland.
Russian navy ships docked in Cuba for several days to the alarm of US military officers and lawmakers.
China has meanwhile been reportedly developing a surveillance base on the island.
Conservative legislators have blamed President Joe Biden for Cuba’s augmented cooperation with US adversaries.
US Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), for example, has consistently criticized President Biden’s conciliatory Cuba approach as emboldening Cuba and tacitly approving their tactics.
Representative Gimenez has also independently drafted legislative initiatives responding to Cuba’s malign operations.
Earlier last month, Giménez penned a bill that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to execute an investigation into national security threats posed by Cuba.
