Two progressive female lawmakers from the Democratic Party, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Pramila Jayapal of Washington, recently undertook a discreet trip to Cuba, a nation known for its adherence to communist principles. The purpose of their visit was to engage in discussions aimed at fostering better diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba. Interestingly, their visit coincided with that of a high-ranking Russian government official, adding a layer of intrigue to the situation.
According to a February 27 report by the Miami Herald, Ilhan Omar and Pramila Jayapal, along with approximately twelve others, traveled to Cuba between February 19 and February 23, coinciding with a recess in the House of Representatives. Both congresswomen, who belong to the progressive faction referred to as “the Squad,” did not publicly disclose the trip beforehand.
In an unusual turn of events, Cuba’s state-controlled media did not cover the visit, despite typically spotlighting visits by foreign socialist leaders. However, upon inquiry by the Miami Herald, the US Congressional Progressive Caucus verified that the visit had indeed occurred.
For over six decades, Cuba has faced sanctions from the United States and is presently included on the federal government’s list of nations designated as sponsors of terrorism. Despite Cuba’s status as a one-party state with a troubling human rights record and a track record of providing military assistance to communist insurgencies globally, Ilhan Omar and Pramila Jayapal, staunch critics of US policy, advocate for the normalization of relations between the two countries.
Typically, official US engagements with Cuba primarily focus on immigration and security matters. However, the delegation led by Ilhan Omar and Pramila Jayapal, which also included a staff member representing Representative Barbara Lee of California, held discussions with Cuban government officials concerning the bilateral relationship between the United States and Cuba.
During the visit of the progressive delegation to Cuba, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also happened to be on the island as part of a tour across Latin America. Cuba had a close relationship with the Soviet Union from the 1959 revolution that established Castro’s communist regime until the USSR’s dissolution in 1991. Since Vladimir Putin assumed the presidency of Russia in 2000, ties between the two nations have regained their former Soviet-era intimacy. Presently, Cuba stands as a staunch ally of Russia and supports Putin’s assertive actions.
