In a strongly-worded statement, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar criticized the Biden administration for their lack of a clear vision for Latin America. Salazar, who chairs the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, stated that the weak leadership from the administration has allowed Iran and other rival nations to establish closer ties and footholds in the U.S.’s own backyard. She emphasized the need for the United States to repair its relationships with countries in the region in order to form a united front against those that invite Iran’s terrorist regime into Latin America.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi recently embarked on a visit to Latin America, starting with stops in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. During this visit, Raisi will have face-to-face meetings with the leaders of these countries and will sign documents to expand bilateral cooperation with Iran. While the specific details of this cooperation have not been disclosed, it will cover economic, political, and scientific areas.
Raisi’s visit to Venezuela included a meeting with President Nicolas Maduro, where both leaders criticized the crippling sanctions imposed on their countries by the United States. Raisi stated that the strategic relationship between Iran and Venezuela is grounded in their shared interests and common enemies. The visit reinforces the perception that Iran sees Latin America as an opportunity to build alliances, erode U.S. influence, and challenge the dominance of the United States in the Western Hemisphere.
The Biden administration has faced criticism from countries in Latin America for their lack of a comprehensive and clear policy for the region. El Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa Jr. previously expressed the need for the U.S. to develop a bipartisan plan to manage immigration and lamented the lack of response to a letter addressed to Vice President Kamala Harris on the topic.
Iran has been actively cooperating with Venezuela to counter U.S. influence, undertaking geopolitical, economic, and military maneuvers. Their efforts have helped Venezuela regain stability in its oil industry, which was heavily impacted by U.S. sanctions. Iran and Venezuela are engaging in mutual schemes to avoid these sanctions. According to experts, Iran’s main goal is to build alliances with like-minded movements and governments in Latin America to challenge U.S. influence and erode the dominance of the U.S.-led rules-based order.
Despite not being on the same level as Russia or China, Iran sees itself as an emerging power that can benefit from the overall decline of U.S. influence in order to reshape the global order. Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, being the more authoritarian countries in the region, align themselves with Iran’s vision and benefit from cooperation with Iran and other rising powers.
The State Department did not respond to a request for comment on the matter. This report contains information from Reuters and The Associated Press. Peter Aitken is a respected Fox News Digital reporter who specializes in national and global news.
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