Florida congress members of Cuban origin demanded on Thursday that Mexico, the European Union (EU), and the administration of US President Donald Trump take action to pressure Cuba and “liberate” the island following the US intervention in Venezuela.
Expressing confidence that “the end of the regime is closer than ever,” Republican legislators Mario Díaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez insisted that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum must halt the shipment of oil and other humanitarian aid to Cuba, as well as the hiring of Cuban doctors.
But, in addition to Mexico, the Miami representatives demanded that the EU suspend the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) with Cuba, and requested that the Trump administration prohibit all travel and remittances to the island.
“We are going to pressure them, whether in Europe or in Mexico, so that those who are helping that regime realize that not only will we not accept it, but there will be consequences for what they are doing, trying to help that regime,” Díaz-Balart warned at a press conference.
“And we know that there are other pressure tactics that the United States can and will take,” he added.
Lawmakers from South Florida, home to the largest Cuban diaspora, intensified their demands, motivated by the U.S. operation in Caracas that on January 3 resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
The congressmen highlighted the influence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Floridian, who told the Senate on Wednesday that the Trump Administration would “love” to see regime change in Cuba, although he clarified that this does not mean Washington will provoke it.
“First, we started with the arrest of Maduro, and I am certain that we are now on the path to freedom in Venezuela. We must take the same step in Cuba. It won’t be easy to achieve democracy when this regime falls, but it is a step we must take,” Giménez stated.
Republicans insisted, in particular, on pursuing consequences for the Mexican government during the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) if oil shipments to the island, which was left without Venezuelan crude by order of Trump, do not cease.
They also warned of possible visa revocations for Mexican officials due to agreements to hire Cuban doctors in Mexico’s public health system.
“Yesterday, President Sheinbaum said she would continue sending oil for humanitarian reasons. There are no more humanitarian reasons than to stop the regime, to kill the regime,” Giménez declared.
