Bob Menendez and other US senators criticize Spain for not sharing strategy against Cuba

Several Democratic Senators from the United States, including the influential chairman of the Foreign Committee, bob menendezhandjob He criticized Spanish government President Pedro Sánchez’s executive for not sharing Washington’s strategy against Cuba this Wednesday..

at a hearing to study the nomination of Julissa Renoso As Washington’s new ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Legislators pressure the official to influence the Spanish government on issues related to Latin America.

In addition to Menendez, democrats also Chris Murphy was particularly upset by the Sanchez executive’s refusal to sign the United States Declaration against the Cuban regime. protests on the island during July; whereas Tim Kaine, also a democrat, Asked about the role that Spain should play with Latin America.

“I am deeply concerned that Spain adopts ideas that are outside the democracy and human rights provisions one would expect to see in a NATO ally.Menendez said.

“It seems that the Spaniards care more about their hotels and investments (in Cuba) than democracy and human rights,” he said.

Cuban-born Menendez, chairman of the Upper House Foreign Committee, Shares strategy with Republican Marco Rubio on multiple occasions As far as Cuba and other Latin American countries ruled by the Left are concerned.

“The Spanish have not been particularly helpful, especially in the Western Hemisphere. I’m sure (Spain) wouldn’t want us to be treated the way we treated him, if he were in his own area of ​​the world.Menendez said.

The MLA also said that he is worried.For the role Spain is playing in Venezuela“

“They seem to be the opposite of where we are in our own hemisphere,” he said.

In her response, Dominican-born Reynoso said she was “quite familiar with Spain’s mediocre policy towards some of these countries, mainly Cuba and Venezuela and Nicaragua, I should add.”

Reynoso, who was ambassador to Uruguay during the Barack Obama administration, confirmed that as ambassador to Madrid. It would be “aim” for Spain to be “more assertive” in relation to these countries, “in view of their significant influence and interests primarily in Cuba.”

“Spain can do a lot,” he said.

Despite his important role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Committee, Menendez occasionally distanced himself from the White House on international matters, such as Biden’s bid to restart the nuclear deal with Iran, promoted by Obama. Opposing the will and from which former President Donald Trump withdrew America. unilateral.

(with info from EFE)

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