Cuban-American Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart expressed that should the Cuban populace rise en masse and the regime's forces resort to killing civilians, it would be unacceptable to President Donald Trump. He stated that the U.S. Armed Forces are strategically positioned in the region, implying potential support.
These comments were made during an interview on the "Enemies of Freedom" program, hosted by Emmanuel Rincón on Radio and TV Martí.
Díaz-Balart compared the current situation to the Biden administration's response during the 2021 protests in Cuba, claiming that the Cuban people lacked U.S. support at that time. He suggested that under Trump, Washington would be more attentive and supportive.
During the discussion, the congressman envisioned a scenario where citizens take to the streets and enter buildings to demand change, warning of potentially escalating violence. He emphasized that if repression led to killings, Trump's administration would not stand idly by.
Díaz-Balart reiterated that only the U.S. President has the authority to deploy the military and asserted that Trump would not permit a massacre of civilians in Cuba.
He contextualized his remarks by highlighting a broader regional perspective. According to him, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua constitute an authoritarian "cancer" that the Trump administration is unwilling to tolerate. He criticized governments that align with U.S. adversaries such as Iran, Russia, and China.
Regarding Venezuela, Díaz-Balart described the country as being on a path toward democratic transition, albeit a challenging one that necessitates sustained pressure.
"The Only Way Forward": Conditions for Easing Sanctions
The congressman emphasized that U.S. law clearly outlines conditions for easing pressure on Havana: a complete transition to democracy, the release of all political prisoners, legalization of basic freedoms (press, expression, independent unions, and parties), and the organization of supervised multiparty elections.
During the interview, Díaz-Balart also mentioned the "Brothers to the Rescue" case, marking its 30th anniversary. He revealed that they have officially requested President Trump and the Department of Justice to review and reopen the case, claiming there is no statute of limitations on potential charges and evidence exists to prosecute Raúl Castro for murder.
He also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attributing a pivotal role to him in hemispheric foreign policy. He described Rubio as an expert on the region who is effectively implementing Trump's policies.
In closing, Díaz-Balart expressed optimism, declaring that Cuba's "day of freedom" is "closer than ever" due to the regime's fragility, public discontent, and the Trump administration's regional focus. He firmly stated there would be no negotiations to sustain "tyrannies" in power.
Understanding U.S. Policy on Cuba Protests
What is Mario Díaz-Balart's stance on U.S. involvement in Cuba?
Mario Díaz-Balart believes that the U.S. should not tolerate violent repression in Cuba and that under Trump's leadership, there would be active support for the Cuban people if protests erupted.
How did Díaz-Balart contrast Trump's and Biden's approaches to Cuba?
Díaz-Balart claimed that during Biden's administration, Cuban protests did not receive U.S. backing, whereas he believes Trump's administration would be more supportive.
What are the conditions for easing U.S. sanctions against Cuba according to Díaz-Balart?
Díaz-Balart stated that sanctions could be eased if Cuba transitions completely to democracy, releases political prisoners, legalizes basic freedoms, and holds fair elections.