(From Washington, United States) During a lengthy debate in the United States Congress, senior US officials the Biden administration and Democratic and Republican representatives they revealed the strong influence that China, Russia and Iran have in Latin America with their illegal businesses.
The debate was in the Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives, it lasted more than three hours and had speakers: Brian NicholsUndersecretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; Todd RobinsonAssistant Secretary for International Narcotics Affairs, and Michael Camilleriassistant administrator of the Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Agency for International Development.
The session was started by Michael McCaulhead of the Foreign Relations Commission, representative for Texas and member of the Republican Party. McCaul wasted no time in describing what he is seeing in Latin America regarding to the strategic offensive coordinated by China, Russia and Iran.
“It is essential that we assess the nature and extent of the risks we face in our own hemisphere under the Biden administration. China, Russia and Iran have a presence in the region. They have taken over critical mineral markets, They have expanded their military influence and deepened its intelligence capabilities, all added and integrated to authoritarian regimes in the Americas”McCaul said.
And he added: “We are talking about Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, and I do not forget that it carries hypersonic missiles, which are ready to reach Cuba. China is financing the dictatorship in Nicaragua and “Iran seeks to deploy Quds forces in Venezuela.”
Next, Gregory Meeks, democratic representative, defended Biden’s management to contain the influence of China, Iran and Russia in Latin America. Meeks questioned. the Belt and Road Initiative, what is the economic tool that the communist regime uses to control countries in the region with structural crises and serious financial weaknesses.
“The Belt and Road Initiative of the People’s Republic of China seeks to exercise greater control through predatory credit practices, which leave countries indebted to Beijing,” Meeks said in his parliamentary presentation.
After the initial speeches by Nichols, Robison and Camilleri, he asked to speak Ann Wagner, Representative from Missouri and member of the Republican Party. Wagner criticized Biden’s international agendaexplained the position of strength that Russia and China already exhibit, and strongly crossed paths with Brian NicholsUndersecretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
““We must restore American leadership abroad to replicate Chinese and Russian aggression,” Wagner said to Nichols, who tried to maintain his diplomatic speech and protocol manners.
Mike Waltzwas a Green Beret, is a Republican and was elected representative in Florida, where a lot of attention is paid to the foreign policy of the communist regime in Cuba. Waltz asked a question that linked Cuban troops, Putin’s influence on the Caribbean island and the war between Ukraine and Russia.
-Several months ago a report revealed that Cubans are being recruited to fight in Russia and its illegals. Please explain Russia’s current military, political and economic relationship with Cuba, he requested. Waltz to Nichols.
-We have raised this issue with Cuban officials. It’s something they expressed concern about. And the Cuban army continues to have an important relationship with Russia: this is demonstrated by the fact that Russian ships are visiting Cuba, he answered. Nichols.
In addition to asking about the links of the Cuban regime with the Russian troops operating in Ukraine, the representatives of the Foreign Relations Committee Commission also raised their doubts regarding a financial operation authorized by the United States that is made from Havana and that could benefit terrorist organizations that operate in the Middle East.
Maria Salazar, is a journalist, was elected in Florida and belongs to the Republican party. Salazar proposed as a working hypothesis to Robinson that Hezbollah – a terrorist group financed by Iran – could use this mechanism to launder money through banking and foreign trade operations.
–Have you not thought about this?– Salazar asked Nichols.
–The regulations we have implemented will help thousands of independent Cuban companies. “The people who participate are examined,” Nichols replied.
Aside from the different positions exhibited by Biden officials and Republican representatives, the debate made it possible to expose illegal businesses what China, Russia and Iran do in Latin America.
It is no longer a state secret the connections between organized crime in the region and the powerful Fentanyl producers in China, as well as the opaque investments of Russia in Venezuela to support the oil industry. Iran, for its part, supports Hezbollah with financial operations that begin in Tehran and conclude in the Triple Border.
Todd RobinsonAssistant Secretary for International Narcotics Affairs, described it with certainty during his participation in the debate: “China and Russia seek capitalize on the lack of opportunities and its impact on the perception of Democracy to increase your presence in the Hemisphere.
