During a hearing with the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, refrained from ruling out potential military action against Cuba when directly questioned.
“I am not going to take options off the table for the President of the United States,” Waltz responded to Democratic Representative Mark Pocan from Wisconsin, who asked, “Are we going to have military action against Cuba? It seems like that is what this report is setting up for.”
The exchange, broadcasted by CBS News, took place during a hearing that was meant to focus on accountability and reform within the United Nations, yet quickly steered towards U.S. policy regarding Cuba.
State Department Report Fuels Debate
Pocan's question emerged just two days after the State Department released its report titled "Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism." This nearly 100-page document accuses the Cuban regime of engaging in espionage, subversion, and strategic alliances with Russia, China, and Iran.
The Democratic congressman criticized both the report's content and Washington's sanctions policy towards Havana. Having been part of a delegation that visited Cuba from July 9 to 13, Pocan observed lengthy power outages and hospitals forced to operate under dire conditions.
“It is us who are blocking that, not the Cuban government,” he argued, suggesting that U.S. restrictions complicate the delivery of medical supplies to the island.
Waltz Defends Sanctions
During the hearing, Waltz refuted the notion that U.S. policy constitutes a “blockade.”
“A blockade is a ring of warships. A blockade is what we have now in Iran,” he explained.
The ambassador further defended sanctions as a measure to prevent the Cuban regime from continuing to expand “its revolution, its communism, and its anti-American revolution in the Western Hemisphere.”
Although Waltz admitted he hasn't fully read the State Department's report or visited Cuba, he claimed that, as a Floridian, he is aware of “the adversarial actions of the Cuban regime.”
He also warned Pocan that he hoped his trips to the island were not used “for the propaganda of the Cuban regime, which has oppressed and massacred people.”
Increasing Tensions Between Washington and Havana
Waltz's remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Havana.
On July 12, the ambassador asserted that China and Russia maintain intelligence facilities in Cuba located near U.S. military bases, adding that the Trump administration “will not tolerate it any longer.”
Meanwhile, Congress has seen initiatives to restrict any potential military intervention. In May, Representatives Nydia Velázquez and Gregory Meeks introduced the War Powers Resolution H. Con. Res. 106, aimed at prohibiting military action against Cuba without prior Congressional approval.
Pocan previously criticized the State Department report as “the most stupid, fantastic, and biased thing” he has read from a government agency, suggesting it seeks to justify a more aggressive policy towards Havana.
The Cuban government also rejected the report. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez labeled it a “slanderous pamphlet,” while Congresswomen Maxine Dexter and Delia Ramírez announced they would push for legislative initiatives to prevent military intervention against Cuba without Congressional authorization and to ensure the Cuban population's access to medicines and humanitarian assistance.
Understanding U.S. Policy Towards Cuba
What is the current stance of the U.S. on military action against Cuba?
U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, has not ruled out military action against Cuba, indicating that all options remain on the table for the President.
Why did the State Department release a report on Cuba?
The State Department released a report accusing Cuba of engaging in espionage and strategic alliances with Russia, China, and Iran, which has fueled debate on U.S. policy towards the island.
How have U.S. sanctions affected Cuba?
Critics argue that U.S. sanctions have complicated the delivery of medical supplies to Cuba, while supporters contend they are necessary to prevent the spread of communism in the Western Hemisphere.