Cuban-American lawmakers have expressed their support for the Monroe Doctrine, indicating their opposition to progressive efforts to end the 200-year-old policy.
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida stated that the “longstanding policy of the Monroe Doctrine – that the United States must protect our hemisphere from any outside interference – is essential for the security and stability of the entire region.” He encouraged members of Congress to work together, regardless of political affiliation, to uphold this policy.
Additionally, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida highlighted the important role that the Monroe Doctrine has played in protecting the Western Hemisphere from “meddling by external powers” and protecting the “sovereignty and self-determination of the region’s nations.”
According to Cuba-based journalist Matt Vasilogambros, U.S. involvement through the Monroe Doctrine has taken a range of forms, including military intervention and sanctions throughout the Americas. This has led to the prominent view that the Monroe Doctrine is a form of “recent American imperialism,” which is incompatible with progressive ideals.
As the political landscape in the Americas shifts, Cuban-American lawmakers are striving to maintain the principles of the Monroe Doctrine, while progressives strive for a new security policy for the region.
