U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela for exacerbating the migration crisis during his visit to Latin America. He emphasized their roles as “enemies of humanity” and criticized Nicaragua’s governmental structure. Cuban President Diaz-Canel countered his claims, linking Cuban migration to the U.S. embargo. Rubio’s tour continued with stops in Guatemala following visits to Panama and El Salvador.
On Tuesday in San José, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the authoritarian regimes of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, labeling them as “enemies of humanity” responsible for ongoing migration crises. Speaking during his inaugural foreign tour focused on migration reduction, Rubio emphasized that without these regimes, the current migration situation in the Americas would not exist.
Rubio’s reprimands were particularly directed at Nicaragua, highlighting the recent move by its parliament to grant President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, immense control over state powers. He described Nicaragua’s governance as a family dynasty that seeks to suppress dissent and the Catholic Church, paralleling the exodus of Nicaraguans with those fleeing from Cuba and Venezuela.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel promptly responded, arguing that Rubio’s accusations reflect the “shamelessness” of U.S. politicians. He attributed Cuba’s migration challenges to the long-standing U.S. trade embargo, stating, “It is proven that the migration exodus in Cuba is proportional to the tightening of the blockade, which deprives our people of essential goods.”
After concluding his visit to Costa Rica, Rubio continued his tour to Guatemala, following stops in Panama and El Salvador. In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele proposed to house U.S. citizen convicts in a newly constructed mega-prison designed for gang members, a gesture Rubio acknowledged with gratitude, noting Bukele’s willingness to accept deported gang members from Latin America.
The migration crisis affecting multiple regions in the Americas has become a pressing issue for international relations, particularly among the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean. Authoritarian regimes in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela have been identified as key contributors to this crisis, prompting U.S. officials to engage with regional leaders and seek solutions. Rubio’s statements underscore the U.S. strategy of holding these regimes accountable while also exploring cooperative measures with allied nations in Latin America.
In summary, Secretary of State Marco Rubio attributes the migration crisis in the Americas mainly to the authoritarian governments of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. His remarks have sparked responses from regional leaders, particularly from Cuba, which correlate domestic migration challenges with U.S. policies. The U.S. is actively engaging Latin American countries to address migration and strengthen regional alliances.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
