Salazar Exposes Biden-Harris Administration’s Unprecedented Lack of Interest in Latin America
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) convened a hearing to call out the Biden-Harris Administration’s unprecedented lack of interest in our neighbors in Latin America.
President Biden is the first American president in 50 years to not visit South America – since the presidency of Gerald Ford. The Biden-Harris Administration has failed to designate a single special envoy for the many crises underway in Latin America, despite designating a special envoy for the Arctic and the Horn of Africa. Furthermore, not a single Latin American head of state has been invited to a state dinner at the White House in the last four years. This makes the Americas the only continents for which no leader has been received.
This lack of enthusiasm for our neighbors in the Americas has directly contributed to China’s growing influence in the region and put our national security at risk. For our safety, we must reverse this unfortunate and irresponsible way of conducting our affairs.
“In the last 4 years, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made it clear that Latin America is NOT a priority for this country,” said Chairwoman Salazar. “These decisions are disastrous for our economy, our national security, and the wellbeing of our allies. If we lose Latin America, we lose our home. Let’s wake up and defend our hemisphere.”
Chairwoman Salazar began her line of questioning by asking Brian Nichols, the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the State Department, about the Administration’s proposed course of action for the upcoming presidential elections in Venezuela. She first pressed Secretary Nichols on whether or not the Administration is aware of the types of fraud Maduro will employ. He acknowledged the Maduro regime’s attempts to cheat thus far, but declined to provide specific examples. Salazar asked Nichols about ongoing negotiations between the White House and the Maduro regime, including secret talks in Qatar last year, but Nichols only explained that there is disagreement over whether the Barbados Agreement was followed.
Salazar then pressed on the record of Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly about a widely criticized trip she took to Guatemala and Mexico in 2021. The newly-appointed border czar Kamala Harris attempted to deal with the ‘root causes’ of the migration crisis by demanding Guatemalans not come to the United States and insulting the Giammattei administration at a press conference where the former president was present. When asked for Nichols’ evaluation of Harris’ record on the issue and on her failure to take decisive action on our southern border, he referenced the partnership for Central America, which dressed up pre-existing investments as new, and is unrelated to the disastrous migration crisis under Vice President Harris’ watch.
Chairwoman Salazar moved on to a question about growing public concern over Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s ability to perform the duties of his office given high-profile cases of irresponsible and questionable public behavior. This includes a failure to attend more than 150 public engagements, tardiness and public drunkenness at events, and recently, being caught with a woman other than his wife in Panama during the inauguration of José Raúl Mulino. When Salazar pressed Nichols on how he feels this might affect President Petro’s ability to govern, he declined to comment directly on the issue and said that the United States relationship is with the whole Colombian government, and not with President Petro.
Chairwoman Salazar focused her last line of questioning on El Salvador, and President Nayib Bukele’s plans to revitalize his nation’s economy. When asked about what the United States plans to do to expand investment and loan opportunities for El Salvador, Nichols expressed interest in working with President Bukele’s government to improve the country’s economic situation.
To watch the full hearing, click here.
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