Last month, the Ortega-Murillo regime in Nicaragua pushed more than 200 political prisoners into exile, called them “traitors,” and illegally stripped them of their citizenship. The U.S. and its allies quickly condemned this blatant violation of justice and international law. A few days later, the People’s Republic of China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, reaffirmed his willingness to “work with Nicaragua” on “high-quality construction” and “the negotiation and signing of a bilateral free trade agreement.”
It’s just one story, but it reflects a broader trend that characterizes the entire region. That pattern is a combination of increased authoritarianism inside Latin America’s far-left regimes and increased authoritarianism from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), whose web of influence has spread to virtually every country in our hemisphere.
Following historic protests in Cuba during Julyne 2021, the Díaz-Canel regime has imprisoned dozens of people every month, including children, simply for speaking out against communist oppression. The violent beating of pro-democracy activist José Daniel Ferrer in front of his wife and children that occurred in December reveals in vivid detail what the regime’s more than 1,000 political prisoners endure.
Meanwhile, in Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro and his thugs continue to undermine the social order, suffocating civil society and destroying Venezuela’s economy in the process. To the disgrace of the Venezuelan people, Maduro’s rule is supported and strengthened by his leftist neighbors, including Colombia’s Gustavo Petro and Brazil’s Lula da Silva, whose administrations have re-established ties with the narco-dictator.
Finally, there is no shortage of proof that the CCP is expanding its power in Latin America and the Caribbean. To accomplish its goals, Beijing is lending money and expertise to Ortega, Díaz-Canel, and Maduro, who, alienated from trade and diplomacy by most of the Western world, make natural partners for Xi Jinping and his cronies. But the CCP is also working with traditional partners of the U.S., including Colombia and Brazil, and seeking to entice others, like Uruguay and Ecuador, with offers of investment and trade agreements. Honduras has already taken the bait. In addition, Beijing is offering scholarships and exchange opportunities to thousands of Latin American students, with the goal of capturing the hearts and minds of future leaders.
These trends do not bode well for the U.S. or the region as a whole. Worse, they reflect weakness on the part of the Biden Administration, which seeks to resurrect the failures of the Obama era. Instead of reacting forcefully to the growing authoritarianism at our doorstep, this White House has sought to lift sanctions on criminal actors and regimes under the guise of “engagement.” Moreover, instead of using America’s foreign policy tools to provide our neighbors with attractive alternatives to Beijing’s overtures, President Biden has exported wokeness and absurd climate goals. He punishes our friends and emboldens our adversaries.
To counter this, I have reintroduced legislation to punish dictators and enhance U.S. engagement in Latin America. Three of my bills—the International Port Security Enforcement Act, the FORCE Act, and the PATRIA Y VIDA Act—would prevent executive appeasement of the Cuban regime and require the White House to offer more support to the Cuban people’s quest for freedom. Meanwhile, my U.S. Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Act would crack down on the illegal gold markets that keep Maduro and criminal groups afloat.
I have also introduced bipartisan legislation to codify and improve intergovernmental security cooperation in the Caribbean, and I have reintroduced a bicameral bill to extend trade benefits for apparel products made in Haiti from 2025 to 2035. An entire society is in turmoil and chaos less than 1,000 miles from our coast. If Haiti’s collapse into anarchy and gang rule reaches completion, millions of innocent people will suffer, and Americans—especially Floridians—will feel the results. My proposals would help Haiti’s economy stay alive while empowering our friends in the region to coordinate an effective response to the crisis.
No one law will ever solve our hemisphere’s problems, but these are the kinds of bills we must pass to advance our interests, and those of our allies and partners—especially if President Biden continues to appease dictators and allow the CCP to outcompete us. I will keep working in Washington to uphold stability and security, defend human rights, and push for greater economic prosperity in our region.