South Florida Sun Sentinel

Op-Ed: Sen. Rick Scott

March 20, 2022

President Joe Biden has completely abandoned Latin America.

That statement may shock some, but how else do you explain his complete silence on threats to our democratic partners in this critical region during his State of the Union? More than 7,700 words in an hour-long address, but none was about the importance of freedom in Latin America.

It’s another shameful example of Biden’s willful ignorance of the threats posed by the dangerous regimes in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and his disconnection with millions of families impacted by those regimes.

Florida is blessed to be the United States’ gateway to Latin America. Our partnerships across the region produce significant trade and job creation. Latin American cultures and traditions enrich our communities and help bind us together.

Unfortunately, socialist dictators, supported by the poisonous communist leadership of the illegitimate regime in Cuba, put all of this at risk.

Cuba’s illegitimate communist Castro/Díaz-Canel regime unjustly imprisons thousands of innocent Cubans, torturing democracy activists like José Daniel Ferrer, Sayli Navarro, and her father Felix Navarro. It blocks internet access to silence the people’s movement for freedom. In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro is clinging to power by murdering his citizens, threatening and imprisoning the democratic opposition and holding sham elections. And in Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega is silencing dissenters, including the news media — taking political prisoners and subjecting his people to increased oppression.

These atrocities are happening in our hemisphere, yet Biden has barely done anything to hold these tyrannical communist regimes accountable.

Biden could use the full weight of the United States to support movements for freedom in these countries, but he hasn’t given the region any serious attention outside of begging Maduro’s regime for more oil while demoralizing the pro-democracy movement of Venezuela.

The Senate recently unanimously passed my resolution condemning the illegitimate Cuban regime and supporting democracy activists. But Biden turned his back on brave Cubans, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans crying out for America’s support.

Why should the United States care about these countries? The atrocities occurring there aren’t happening in a vacuum. Socialist and communist regimes in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua fuel instability, violence and corruption throughout the region, threatening our southern border and our economy. Dictatorships directly influence the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs across our border.

Authoritarians allow more existential threats, like Communist China, Iran and Russia, to have partnerships near our homeland. When allowed to operate in Latin America, Communist China can push out western democratic influence and eventually add military bases. Iranian terrorists can find safe harbor in Cuba and Venezuela, where Russia is threatening to station troops even as it invades Ukraine. In Colombia, considered one of America’s strongest allies, Russia is attempting to influence the outcome of the presidential elections.

That’s why Biden’s do-nothing approach is so dangerous and irresponsible, and his silence on freedom for Latin America has been so deafening. Every time Biden has the chance to stand up for freedom, democracy and human rights on the world stage, he chooses appeasement – and he’s done the same here at home.

Instead of defending America’s democratic institutions, Biden appeases socialist, woke radicals who control his party. Democrats are working to pack the Supreme Court, commit a federal takeover of state elections and abolish the filibuster. These actions confirm a sad truth — the Democratic Party has abandoned its principles, given up on democracy and embraced an un-American agenda.

Want to quickly understand just how wrong this path toward socialism is for America? Visit with families in South Florida from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. They’ve seen socialism and communism firsthand. Many still have family living under these oppressive tyrants. They won’t hesitate to tell you how wrong Joe Biden’s agenda is.

Americans expect the United States to be an unapologetic promoter of democracy and freedom. They expect our leaders to shine a light on tyranny, human rights abuses and other atrocities and demand change.

Freedom in Latin America is critical to the preservation of freedom in the western hemisphere. Joe Biden may have abandoned this cause, but we will never stop fighting.

Republican Rick Scott represents Florida in the U.S. Senate and is chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).

Read more: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/commentary/fl-op-com-rick-scott-latin-america-20220320-mtocvatlkrdxrnhzsyanhleicu-story.html