What Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Means For Cuba And Venezuela... Terrifying For Some, Spanish Language Fluency Becomes Important, End Of Airplane Metaphor, And Precursor For Vance-Rubio 2028?
/Initial thoughts…
For United States Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida), his January 2025 confirmation hearing may be a repeat of Antony Blinken’s confirmation hearing in January 2021 where he said in response to a question about Cuba- that the while the Obama-Biden Administration (2009-2017), where he was Deputy Secretary of State, had normalized relations with Cuba without informing in advance members of the United States Senate, he would work with the United States Senate on “the take-off, inflight, and landing” for Cuba-related decisions during the Biden-Harris Administration.
For soon-to-be Secretary of State Rubio, his only issue with his former members of the United States Senate will likely be to what extent punishing further Cuba and Venezuela is productive towards the goal of “regime change” in terms of changing the behavior of the regimes.
Senator Rubio will bring to Foggy Bottom in Washington DC a robust focus towards Cuba and Venezuela. He and Michael Waltz, soon-to-be Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, given they are both from the State of Florida, will take another look at the Trump-Pence Administration (2017-2021) Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) and National Security Council (NSC) playbook for Cuba and Venezuela.
The search will be for what was authorized during the Clinton-Gore Administration (1993-2001), Bush-Cheney Administration (2001-2009), Obama-Biden Administration (2009-2017), and Biden-Harris Administration (2021-2025), and how to reverse, rescind, strengthen, or lessen.
While China and other countries have used sanctions imposed upon them by the United States as opportunities to restructure, strengthen, revitalize, and absorb, with results being commercial, economic, financial, and political stability and in most instances, Cuba just complains and asks others to help them, so they do not have to make difficult decisions.
When Mauricio Claver-Carone was appointed Senior Director, Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council, everyone involved in anything relating to Cuba was terrified because for the first time there was a person whose previous life’s focus was Cuba- and how to dismantle anything that smelled of engagement, re-engagement, cooperation, or appeasement. He had the authority and desire to use the authority- which he did with immense impact.
With Secretary of State Rubio, whose parents are of Cuban descent, and whose advocacy for policies, regulations, and statutes relating to Cuba are well known, the Claver-Carone terrifying years will be replaced by the Rubio terrifying years- where the United States Secretary of State has far more authority.
Antony Blinken speaks fluently French. Senator Rubio speaks fluently Spanish. Secretary of State Rubio will have the capacity and energy and desire to sit one-on-one with the heads of state and heads of government of the countries in The Americas to make his case about Cuba and Venezuela.
Senator Rubio wanted to be president of the United States and continues to want to be president of the United States. He can envision a “Vance-Rubio” 2028 Republican Party ticket.
That desire for future public office will be an addictive incentive to not only espouse what the Trump-Vance Administration wants, but to achieve that the Trump-Vance Administration wants. Achievements make for better campaign slogans. Meaning for anyone focusing upon Cuba, the worst of all possible nightmares- and one that could last four years.
