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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, Chairwoman Rep. María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) presided over a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, where she issued a forceful warning on Mexico's role in the region and stressed that continued enabling of authoritarian regimes threatens democratic values and stability across the hemisphere.
In her opening remarks, Salazar emphasized that Mexico is the United States' closest neighbor and that geographic proximity brings shared responsibility.
"Our hemisphere needs leaders, not bystanders," said Rep. Salazar. "Mexico is too important to sit on the sidelines. It must stop enabling dictators in Venezuela and Cuba and stand with the United States in defense of freedom, democracy, and the future of the Western Hemisphere."
While acknowledging areas of improved cooperation between the Mexican government and the United States, Salazar made clear that more must be done, particularly in confronting dictatorships in the region. She pointed to more than $3 billion worth of oil shipped in 55 tankers to the Cuban regime, Mexico's acceptance of more than 3,000 Cuban doctors under agreements that sent over $100 million to the Cuban regime, not to the doctors themselves, and continued indifference to the suffering of the Venezuelan people and their fight for freedom.
During the hearing, Members heard testimony from Katherine Dueholm, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and Chris Landberg, Senior Bureau Official in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs at the Department of State.
As Chairwoman of the Subcommittee, Salazar reaffirmed that a strong, principled U.S.-Mexico partnership is essential to confronting authoritarian regimes, strengthening regional security, and advancing freedom throughout the Western Hemisphere.
You can watch Rep. Salazar's opening remarks here.
You can watch the full hearing here.
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