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The Democratic congresswoman from New York, Nydia M. Velázquez, has introduced an initiative aimed at preventing any attempt of military action by the U.S. against Cuba without the approval of Congress, amidst a climate of increasing political tension and rhetoric from the White House.
Under the title "War Powers Resolution," the proposal was presented this Tuesday, March 24, and aims to prevent President Donald Trump from ordering a military offensive against the island without the explicit authorization of the Legislative Branch.
The measure will need to be put to a vote in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold the majority, which suggests a complicated scenario for its approval.
According to the agency EFE, the resolution emphasizes that the U.S. Congress has “not declared” war on Cuba or “any person or organization within the Island,” thus any use of military force would lack legal support without its authorization.
The initiative comes in a context marked by recent statements from Trump himself, who claimed it would be “an honor” to take the island, as well as by the tightening of pressure measures on the Cuban regime, including an energy blockade that has worsened the already deep crisis in the country.
Velázquez has been particularly forceful in his critiques of the Republican leader.
In a statement, he denounced that the foreign policy of the current administration is “out of control” and warned of its consequences: “it is putting countless American and foreign lives at risk.”
The legislator also directly questioned Trump's intentions towards Cuba.
"While threatening to 'take' Cuba, its oil blockade is worsening a humanitarian crisis and punishing the Cuban people. We have seen this strategy before. We cannot repeat it," he asserted.
In the same vein, he insisted on the need for Congress to reclaim its constitutional role concerning military decisions.
"The military blockade by Trump, his threats, and his record during this term demonstrate that Congress must reaffirm its constitutional authority and prevent another disastrous war before it is too late," states the document.
Another similar initiative
Velázquez's proposal is not an isolated event.
It joins another resolution pushed by a group of Democratic senators with a similar goal: to prevent the White House from taking military action against Cuba without legislative authorization.
However, initiatives of this kind have been recently rejected by a Republican-dominated Congress, as happened with projects related to Venezuela and Iran.
Still, the political context could be introducing new tensions.
The escalation of international conflicts and the strain among sectors of the electorate have increased pressure on legislators, forcing them to publicly take a stance on potential military interventions.
In practical terms, even if the resolution were to be approved in both chambers, Donald Trump himself would still have the power to veto it.
Overcoming that veto would require a two-thirds majority in Congress, a highly unlikely scenario given the current balance of power.
Although the chances of the initiative succeeding are limited, its introduction compels a debate in Congress about the extent of presidential power regarding war and the direction of U.S. policy toward Cuba, at a particularly sensitive moment for the residents of the island.
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