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ON THE OCCASION of the first anniversary of the historic protests in Cuba, El American interviewed Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), who also highlighted the communist regimes in the region and rebuked the role of the Biden administration in the advance of the extreme left in Latin America.
According to Senator Rubio, there are advisers in the Biden administration who sympathize with the communist tyranny in Havana. “They want nothing more than to return to the Obama-era policy of concessions and appeasement,” Rubio said. He also mentioned Colombia’s newly elected president, Gustavo Petro, labeled by Rubio as a “concern” but said that he hopes “that the institutions are strong enough” to push back against him.
— One year after July 11, do you think the opportunity to free Cuba was missed?
No, the desire for a free Cuba remains alive. An opportunity was ignited and the dictatorship’s nightmare became a reality: the island of Cuba united and spoke up against decades of repression, abuses, censorship, and violations.
— Why do you think the Biden administration did nothing to help Cubans, considering the great opportunity that had presented at that time?
Because this administration is controlled by advisers sympathetic to the Cuban regime. They want nothing more than to return to the Obama-era policy of concessions and appeasement. That crazy, pro-regime agenda is why President Biden stayed on the sidelines.
— Do you see another insurrection happening against the Castro regime?
The Cuban people’s discontent with the regime is justified. Just look at the regime’s repressive response after 11J. Peaceful protestors were jailed. Even today, comments on social media are quickly censured. Just look at the dictatorship’s response to a Cuban mother who spoke up against them. She was immediately intimidated by the island’s security apparatus. The Castro/Díaz-Canel model is not sustainable in the long run, Cubans have realized that the promises of the revolution are simply a farce.
— Do actions such as the “Cuban Thaw” or the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela make Biden an accomplice of these regimes?
These actions make the Biden Administration an accomplice to the regime’s illegitimate grip on power. Granting these thugs any concessions or lifting any sanctions, simply enriches them personally.
— The extreme left continues to gain space in the region. The last triumph was in Colombia. What do you think of a Petro government?
The people of Colombia democratically chose their next leader. Petro’s election poses the unprecedented reality of having a far-left, anti-American, and former M-19 member as president of our most important regional ally. There is cause for concern but I hope Colombia’s institutions are strong enough to confront this challenge.
— Do you think the White House should be more concerned about Latin American politics?
Absolutely. They should be more concerned about the rise of anti-American, and far-left governments in the region, for example. What occurs in our region has direct repercussions on our nation, and especially in our southern border, as we’re now witnessing.
— What are the risks for the U.S. that countries like Russia, China, or Iran gain influence in the region through allied governments like Venezuela, Cuba, or Bolivia?
Nicaragua, Venezuela, Cuba, and other countries in our region are aligning themselves with anti-American elements that threaten our hemisphere’s stability and hegemony. The threat is real, serious, and poses tremendous risks to our national security interests.
— Do you think that the communist regimes in Latin America would benefit from a Democratic government in the White House?
They certainly have benefited from the current administration. Cuba, with the help of the Ortega regime, is using mass migration as a tool against our nation. Narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are certainly ecstatic that their nephew is no longer sanctioned by the U.S. government.
— Finally, if a Republican wins the elections in 2024, is this bad news for the socialist regimes in Latin America?
It’ll certainly make their lives more difficult. There would be a swift reversal of the Biden Administration’s policy of pushing for negotiations with tyrants and turning our backs on our regional allies.
Orlando Avendaño is the co-editor-in-chief of El American. He is a Venezuelan journalist and has studies in the History of Venezuela. He is the author of the book Days of submission // Orlando Avendaño es el co-editor en Jefe de El American. Es periodista venezolano y cuenta con estudios en Historia de Venezuela. Es autor del libro Días de sumisión.