Five Republican congressmen signed a letter on Thursday urging President Joe Biden to deny visa requests for the "evil dictators" Miguel Díaz-Canel, Nicolás Maduro, and Masoud Pezeshkian, leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran respectively, to prevent them from attending the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.
Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, along with Tom Cotton (Arkansas), Joni Ernst (Iowa), and Markwayne Mullin (Oklahoma), argued that the host nation should prevent the gathering from becoming a platform for "the world's most malevolent leaders to gain credibility and promote their dangerous views, which pose significant threats to U.S. national security and our allies."
The letter states that "Díaz-Canel, who inherited and has upheld Castro's dictatorship and the brutal oppression of the Cuban people, has a decades-long history of threatening the United States and harboring its worst enemies. This includes allowing Communist China to build a spy base just 90 miles from the U.S. and recently facilitating military exercises with Russia that brought nuclear-powered Russian submarines within miles of Florida's coast."
It also claims that "Maduro is actively attempting to steal an election from the Venezuelan people and imprisoning his political opponents to maintain his illegitimate grip on power."
Additionally, it notes that "the newly installed Iranian president Pezeshkian has publicly vowed to continue his predecessor’s policies, including attacks on Israel and the United States."
On the social media platform X, Scott reiterated his call for Biden to deny entry to "dictators, oppressors, and human rights violators like Ortega, Díaz-Canel, and Maduro." Meanwhile, Rubio emphasized that under no circumstances should these dictators be allowed to enter the United States.
The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) is scheduled to take place in New York City from September 10 to 24, 2024.
Key Questions on Visa Denial for Dictators at UNGA
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the call to deny visas to certain world leaders for the United Nations General Assembly.
Why are U.S. lawmakers urging Biden to deny visas to Díaz-Canel, Maduro, and Pezeshkian?
They argue that these leaders represent regimes that threaten U.S. national security and the well-being of their own citizens, and should not be given a platform to promote their harmful ideologies.
What specific threats do these leaders pose according to the letter?
The letter cites Díaz-Canel's alignment with hostile nations, Maduro's election tampering and political imprisonments, and Pezeshkian's aggressive stance towards Israel and the U.S.
When and where will the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly take place?
The UNGA 79 is set to be held in New York City from September 10 to 24, 2024.