New pulse in Washington… and same result. The US Senate to limit the power of Donald Trump to act militarily, this time with Cuba in the spotlight.
The vote, which ended with 51 votes against and 47 in favor, reflects an almost total division by blocks. Republicans voted en masse to stop the initiative, although there were two notable exceptions: Susan Collins and Rand Paul, who aligned themselves with the Democrats.
The underlying fear: that “Cuba will be next”
The debate does not arise out of nowhere. In recent months, with measures such as energy blockade and statements that have set off all the alarms.
In fact, the president himself has even hinted that “”, in line with your strategy in other scenarios such as Iran or Venezuela.
For Democrats, the risk is clear: that the president could initiate actions without going through Congress. “If someone did to the United States what we are doing to Cuba, we would consider it an act of war”Senator Tim Kaine even warned during the debate.
A battle that repeats itself… and always falls on the same side
What happened with Cuba is not an isolated case. In recent weeks, Democrats have repeatedly attempted to trim Trump’s war powers, especially regarding Iran.
The result has always been the same: defeat in the Senate.
The pattern repeats itself: resolutions promoted by Democrats, almost total support from Republicans for the president and some occasional leaks on both sides. But insufficient to change the result.
From the Republican side, the argument is clear: There is no direct military intervention in Cuba that justifies limiting the president.
Some senators consider that these initiatives are more of a political movement than a real need, and defend that acts within his powers as commander in chief.
The White HouseFor its part, it maintains that its actions – such as the blockade – are justified and are part of its strategy to pressure the Government of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
A conflict that goes beyond Cuba
Beyond the specific case, the debate once again puts on the table a key issue in American politics: How far does the president’s power extend to initiate military action without the approval of Congress?
The Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, but in practice presidents have expanded their margin of action, especially in “limited” or indirect conflicts.
The sensation in Washington
While negotiations with Iran remain blocked and international tension does not decrease, the message left by this vote is clear: Congress, at least for now, is unwilling to stop Trump.
And that fuels a question that hovers over Washington: if it has already happened in Iran… what will happen if the focus definitively shifts to Cuba?
