Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Cuba

op ed  in the New York Times by two important advisors of the Biden foreign policy team. 

Trump Still Has 70 Days to Wreak Havoc Around the World

A few words in Mr. Biden’s inaugural speech about his commitment to multilateralism, diplomacy and human rights would set the right tone. On Nov. 4, the Trump administration officially withdrew the United States from the Paris climate agreement, but Mr. Biden can easily rejoin it on his first day in office, as he has vowed to do. He can prevent our withdrawal from the World Health Organization, which doesn’t take effect until July 2021. The new president can also restore President Barack Obama’s Cuba policy, reaffirm the United States’ commitment to NATO, and replace Mr. Trump’s partisan and often unqualified appointees.

But there is only so much low-hanging fruit, not least because the Trump administration has been working relentlessly to make many policies as difficult to reverse as possible.


Robert Malley is the president and chief executive of the International Crisis Group. Philip H. Gordon is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and the author of “Losing the Long Game: The False Promise of Regime Change in the Middle East.” They served in the Obama administration and as informal advisers to the Biden-Harris campaign. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/opinion/biden-trump-foreign-policy.html

On Cuba News has reported statements from the Biden campaign reflecting a more aggressive stance against Trump Administration Cuba policies: “In the midst of a global pandemic in which families are suffering deeply on the island and around the world, President Trump is denying Cuban-Americans the right to help their families,” Florida campaign strategic advisor Christian Ulvert said in a statement. The Democrat recalled that Western Union “is the largest remittance service” in Cuba and that its closing “will be painful for Cuban families, especially the oldest and most vulnerable, both on the island and in the United States.” “Trump’s war on family remittances is a cruel distraction from his administration’s failure to promote democracy in Cuba,” said Ulvert, adding that the “presumed support of the president for the Cuban people is nothing more than empty rhetoric.”.... The Democratic candidate for the U.S. vice presidency, Kamala Harris, assured this Tuesday in an interview with EFE that if she and Biden get to the White House they will repeal the restrictions that Trump has imposed on the island, although the end of the blockade will not happen “soon.” She said that the embargo is law and that an act by of Congress is needed to lift it or that the president determines that a democratically elected government is in power in Cuba, adding that they don’t expect any of these things to happen anytime soon. https://oncubanews.com/en/cuba-usa/bidens-campaign-criticizes-blocking-of-remittances-to-cubans/ Translated by Walter Lippmann. This is the section on Cuba of a longer EFE interview with Kamala Harris. Includes link to the full interview. Taken from Iroel Sánchez blog, LA PUPILA INSOMNE. Kamala Harris on Cuba: "The embargo is the law." By EFE Posted by La pupila insomne In a written interview with the Spanish press agency Efe, the senator and vice president for the Democratic Party Kamala Harris answered two questions related to Cuba. Q: What would a future government of yours and that of the Democratic candidate Joe Biden do to reverse the policies that Trump has adopted towards Cuba? Would you personally advocate for an end to the blockade? A: The policy of a Biden and Harris Administration towards Cuba would be governed by two principles: First, Americans, especially Cuban-Americans, are the best ambassadors of freedom in Cuba. Second, empowering the Cuban people to determine their own future is vital to America's national security interests. Trump is deporting hundreds of Cubans back to dictatorship and back to a regime crackdown that has only increased under his presidency. There are nearly 10,000 Cubans languishing in tent camps along the Mexican border due to Trump's anti-immigrant agenda. And it is separating Cuban families through restrictions on family visits and remittances. We will backtrack on Trump's failed policies. And as Joe Biden did previously as vice president, he will also demand the release of political prisoners and will make human rights a centerpiece in the diplomatic relationship. The embargo is the law; you need an act of Congress to lift it or you need the president to determine that a democratically elected government is in power in Cuba. We don't expect any of these things to happen anytime soon. Q: From a US foreign policy perspective, what role do you think Spain can play in relations with Cuba and, in general, with Latin America? A: Under a Biden and Harris Administration, the US will work with members of the international community, including Spain, to support the Cuban people, as well as promote Joe Biden's vision of the need to work for a safe hemisphere, middle class and democratic. ( Read full interview )

Democrat Joe Biden is making a direct pitch to Florida’s Latino voters by attacking President Donald Trump’s handling of Cuba and Venezuela.

Speaking at a drive-in rally in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, Biden said Trump is “the worst possible standard-bearer for democracy” in places like Cuba and Venezuela.

The president, Biden said, “can’t advance democracy and human rights” in Cuba or Venezuela “when he has embraced so many autocrats around the world.” And he said that the Trump administration’s decision to reimpose trade and travel sanctions on Cuba “isn’t working,” declaring that “Cuba is no closer to freedom and democracy today than it was four years ago.”

Florida’s sizable and diverse Latino population could be key to Biden’s chances in Florida, a state that remains a must-win for Trump. While the state’s Cuban population has traditionally trended Republican, Democrats believe they have an opening with Florida’s Cubans because of Trump’s move to freeze relations with the nation and the changing demographics of the population.

Biden set the stakes for voters at the rally, telling them, “If Florida goes blue, it’s over!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-latest-trump-rally-sets-minnesota-rally-for-rochester/2020/10/29/6f2d2ea4-1a48-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html

Biden Discusses Cuba, Venezuela in Interview With NBC 6

Published September 2, 2020 • Updated on September 2, 2020 at 2:43 pm

Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden discussed Latin-American politics during a one-on-one interview with NBC 6 anchor Jackie Nespral.

Among the topics discussed was the frozen relationship between the United States and Cuba. In the last four years, the Trump administration has reversed many, if not all, Obama-era policies in relation to Cuba that were put in place in 2016. Some of these policies include placing restrictions on travel and tourism and cutting the staff in the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.

Biden said that if he is elected president, he will bring back those policies set by then President Obama and work to repair the relationship which has been on the rocks for more than 50 years.

“I am trying to reverse the failed Trump policies that have inflicted harm to Cubans and their families. He has done nothing to advance democracy and human rights," Biden said. "My plan, is to pursue a policy advancing interest and empowering the Cuban people to freely determine their own outcome and future.”

The crisis in Venezuela is also on the minds of many here in South Florida. Recently the president drew controversy from lawmakers, after saying he’d be open to meeting with Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.

Biden called President Trump’s approach to Venezuela a failure and said if he wins the election this November, he would extend and provide temporary protected status for Venezuelans.

"It is an abject failure since he took office. Nicolás Maduro has gotten stronger, Venezuela's people are worse off, living in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The country is no closer to a free election," Biden said. "Trump’s incoherent approach has eliminated international partners, has alienated partners and undermined the cause of democracy and his policy has failed to eliminate human suffering for millions of Venezuelan Americans.”

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/politics/decision-2020/biden-discusses-cuba-venezuela-in-interview-with-nbc-6/2287217/

What Kamala Harris thinks about Cuba On Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden announced Senator Kamala Harris, the junior senator from California, will be his running mate, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Last year, Sen. Harris responded to a Tampa Bay Times survey asking questions about Florida-specific issues, including Cuba policy. Asked whether she would continue or end the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, Sen. Harris’ staff responded “Senator Harris believes we should end the failed trade embargo and take a smarter approach that empowers Cuban civil society and the Cuban-American community to spur progress and freely determine their own future.” Shortly after the official announcement, a group of Cuban-American Biden supporters, Cubanos con Biden, reacted positively to Sen. Harris’ nomination. They tweeted that reason number 84 out of 90 that Cubans should vote for Democrats in November is because Sen. Harris is the daughter of immigrants and she is an Afro-Caribbean and Asian-American woman who understands the challenges of the immigrant community in the U.S. Democrats in Florida, a critical swing state. Fernand Amandi, a Democratic strategist and pollster from Miami, stated “Kamala Harris has no baggage with Hispanic voters [in Florida].” Sen. Harris was a co-sponsor of the Freedom for Americans to Travel to Cuba Act which would prohibit U.S. citizens from being restricted from traveling to Cuba in 2017 and most recently in 2019 .

-- Center for Democracy in the Americas, U.S, Cuba News Brief

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HISPANIC JOURNALISTS / NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO: (32:41)

ARE YOU GOING TO REENGAGE WITH CUBA THOUGH? I MEAN, I’M SPECIFICALLY WONDERING ABOUT THE FLORIDA COMMUNITIES THAT ARE INCREDIBLY INTERESTED IN THE CUBA ISSUE AND SEE STATUS GIVEN TO VENEZUELANS WHILE CUBANS ARE BEING DEPORTED. SO WILL YOU ENGAGE WITH CUBA?

JOE BIDEN: (33:03)

THE ANSWER IS YES. YES. YES.

HTTPS://WWW.REV.COM/BLOG/TRANSCRIPTS/JOE-BIDEN-INTERVIEW-TRANSCRIPT-AUGUST-6-TALKS-MENTAL-FITNESS-HEALTHCARE

Q2. SHOULD THE U.S. WORK TO BROKER A REGIME CHANGE IN VENEZUELA?

Biden: The United States should not be in the business of regime change. Nicolás Maduro is a dictator, plain and simple, but the overriding goal in Venezuela must be to press for a democratic outcome through free and fair elections, and to help the Venezuelan people rebuild their country. The international community also has a responsibility to help Venezuela’s neighbors like Colombia to manage the grave humanitarian crisis created by the millions of Venezuelan migrants who’ve fled the country. As president, I would also grant Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans in the United States.

Q9. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CUBA?

Biden: Americans – and especially Cuban-Americans – can be our best ambassadors for freedom in Cuba. Therefore, as president, I will promptly reverse the failed Trump policies that have inflicted harm on the Cuban people and done nothing to advance democracy and human rights.

https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/2020-candidates-10-questions-latin-america-policy

BEAUTIFUL VIDEO OF JILL BIDEN'S VISIT TO CAMAGUEY

AND HAVANA, PRODUCED BY THE WHITE HOUSE    https://youtu.be/hc6NiDbVepI