Democrats leading the war powers resolution noted recent U.S. combat operations in Venezuela and Iran, and the president’s recent comments that ‘Cuba’s next.’
The U.S. Senate halted a resolution on April 28 to bar President Donald Trump from being able to direct military action against Cuba without first obtaining affirmative Congressional approval.
Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) invoked the 1973 War Powers Act to force the Senate vote on Tuesday. In raising the war powers issue, those Senate Democrats cited recent U.S. combat operations in Venezuela and Iran, and March comments by Trump that “Cuba’s next.”
Senators voted 51–47 against advancing the Democrat-led resolution to a final vote.
Similar Democrat-led war powers votes concerning U.S. military actions against Venezuela and Iran have also failed in the Republican-controlled Senate in recent weeks.
U.S.–Cuba relations have remained contentious since Fidel Castro swept to power in Havana in 1959 at the head of a communist revolution.
The U.S. government led efforts to overthrow Castro in the 1960s. CIA officers helped arm and train Cuban exiles who led a failed invasion to retake the country in April of 1961. After this failed invasion attempt, the CIA continued to develop covert methods to weaken Castro’s hold on power through an effort known as Operation Mongoose.
Since the 1960s, the U.S. government has maintained pressure on Cuba through economic sanctions and trade restrictions.
Under Castro’s leadership, Cuba aligned with the Soviet Union.
Under the current leadership of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Cuba has continued to maintain ties with Russia, China, and Venezuela.
Havana acknowledged 32 Cuban soldiers attached to Nicolás Maduro’s security detail were killed during the Jan. 3 U.S. military raid to capture the Venezuelan leader.
Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 29 declaring Cuba “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The order notes Cuba’s continued military cooperation with China, Russia, and Iran, and asserts Havana has welcomed designated terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
As part of his Jan. 29 executive order, Trump imposed new tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba. The Caribbean island nation has faced recent blackouts as it has struggled to maintain its energy supply.
By Ryan Morgan
