Commander Of United States Southern Command Mentioned Cuba In Statement Before U.S. Senate
/STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL CRAIG S. FALLER COMMANDER, UNITED STATES SOUTHERN COMMAND BEFORE THE 117TH CONGRESS SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE MARCH 16, 2021
These threats include ESAs [external state actors] like the PRC, Russia, and Iran that actively seek to take advantage of the nascent, fragile democracies in this region and look to exploit the region’s resources and proximity to the United States; TCOs that run all forms of illicit activities to turn a profit, at the expense of the rule of law, and more importantly, of the lives of all who are impacted along the way; and malign regional state actors – those countries within our own neighborhood, like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, that perpetuate corruption and challenge freedom and democracy by opening the door to ESAs and TCOs at the expense of their own people.
Cuba. Cuba remains a regional corrosive influence that enables and inspires autocratic regimes in the hemisphere and is the primary supporter of the illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela. Cuba is the entry point for ESA influence in the region and its reach extends beyond this hemisphere. Like the PRC, Cuba uses medical diplomacy to build international goodwill and gain back door access to undermine fragile democracies. Havana has fully exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to reinvigorate its medical outreach, a key revenue generator for the island at a time when it is desperate for income.
