State Department report links Cuba to left wing groups in the US
WASHINGTON (TNND) — The State Department is escalating pressure on Cuba after releasing a report this week titled “Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism.” It accused the Cuban government of backing what it called left-wing terrorism on American soil.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott pointed to what he described as an example of that activity. (TNND)
The report alleged Cuba has worked to infiltrate progressive protest movements in the United States, citing groups ranging from the Black Panthers to so-called Antifa groups that demonstrated and rioted after the death of George Floyd.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott pointed to what he described as an example of that activity.
“One powerful example on this to show what this network is doing is the National Network on Cuba issued what they’re calling a rapid response plan, calling for agitation and resistance in the United States and publishing the locations of U.S. military bases and ice installations. That’s the type of network we’re talking about here,” Pigott said.
U.S.-Cuba tensions have been ongoing, including economic and oil sanctions that have contributed to blackouts in Cuba. Pigott blamed the outages on the Cuban government.
“The reason why we’re seeing these blackouts is because of the Cuban regime’s own incompetence. The Cuban regime was relying forever on receiving oil for free. That’s what they were expecting to do. And most of that oil they received for free was not going to the Cuban people. Upwards of 60% of it was being resold to other nations. And the regime and their allies and insiders were pocketing that. So that was not going to the Cuban people,” Pigott said.
The report drew criticism from Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan after he recently visited Cuba. Pocan called numerous claims “fantastical” and said it was a blueprint for an invasion.
“I think this is Marco Rubio’s personal South Florida pet project and he wants us to go into Cuba in a way I don’t think the American people will support,” Pocan said Tuesday.
Speculation has increased about whether the U.S. could be planning military action on the island. The Trump administration has hinted at using the military in Cuba, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has long pushed for regime change. President Trump has also hinted at regime change following a military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of now-ousted President Nicolas Maduro.
Asked whether the United States is about to invade Cuba, Pigott did not announce any military plans but said the administration’s focus is on security and its broader goals for Cuba.
“Look, as the Secretary just addressed here, our goal is first making sure we defend the United States from far-left extremism and terrorism that is hurting so many people, working with our allies and partners to do that around the world as well. Our goal is to see a Cuba where the Cuban people can be happy and prosperous as Cuban people are everywhere else,” Pigott said.
As the pressure campaign continues, the United States sent a flight full of food and hygiene kits on Tuesday as part of a $100 million humanitarian effort with Catholic groups on the island, intended to bypass the Cuban government and deliver aid directly to the Cuban people.