Jesús Daniel Romero and William Acosta for Poder & Dinero and FinGurú
The announcement of Brian Nichols' resignation and retirement as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, along with his colleague, Juan S. González, highlights the mediocrity that characterizes their management and, more broadly, the foreign policy of the Biden administration towards Latin America. Nichols and González face severe criticism from the international community for their poor and highly questionable handling of Nicolás Maduro's regime, the crisis in Haiti, and the situation in Cuba. They simply got it wrong in all three cases.
Errors regarding the Maduro regime:
1. Inconsistency in strategy: Initially, Nichols opposed direct dialogue with Maduro, but later signed the Doha Agreement, demonstrating a lack of coherent and more transparent policy.
2. Lack of support for the opposition: Their efforts to strengthen the Venezuelan opposition were deemed insufficient and disorganized. Hence, their efforts to support María Corina Machado as a presidential candidate and the exchange of Alex Saab.
3. Blame shifting: After the failure of the Doha Agreement, Nichols blamed other actors instead of taking responsibility for erroneous decisions.
4. Neglect of humanitarian crises: The response to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela was considered inadequate, with few concrete actions taken to alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people.
Errors regarding Haiti:
1. Lack of clear strategy: Their management in Haiti was marked by the absence of an effective strategic plan to address the political instability and humanitarian crisis.
2. Lack of coordination with allies: Nichols and González were criticized for failing to coordinate efforts with other countries and organizations seeking to stabilize the situation in Haiti.
3. Inaction in the face of violence: The growing violence in Haiti was not effectively addressed, contributing to further deterioration of security and governance.
4. Apparent indifference: Many observers noted an apparent indifference to the urgent needs of the Haitian people, affecting the image of the U.S. in the region.
Errors in managing Cuba:
The management of Brian Nichols and Juan S. González regarding Cuba has also faced criticism, especially for the lack of progress in the release of political prisoners in Cuba. Below is a list of mistakes made in their approach to Cuba:
1. Inaction against repression: Despite the increasing repression by the Cuban regime, the administration did not take effective measures to advocate for the release of political prisoners, leaving many in critical situations.
2. Lack of support for civil society: No concrete strategies were implemented to strengthen Cuban civil society and support pro-democracy movements, limiting opportunities for significant change.
3. Poor handling of dialogue: Attempts to engage in dialogue with the Cuban regime were considered unstrategic and lacked a clear approach prioritizing human rights and democracy.
4. Disconnection from the needs of the Cuban people: Their management failed to connect with the aspirations of the Cuban population, resulting in a perception of indifference on the part of the U.S. to improve the situation on the island.
5. Lack of coordination with allies: There was inadequate coordination or partnership with other countries and organizations sharing interests in promoting democracy and human rights in Cuba, weakening the impact of U.S. actions.
6. Slow reaction to critical events: The administration was criticized for its slow and insufficient response to significant events, such as the July 2021 protests, where the lack of a firm stance left many disillusioned.
The combination of these mistakes highlights a lack of leadership and clear direction in U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America. Poor representation has consequences, and mediocrity in foreign policy management not only weakens the country’s position but also has lasting repercussions for diplomatic relations and regional stability. As a result, the Cuban and Venezuelan regimes appear to have clearly outmaneuvered and deceived the U.S. State Department in their own game. Without a change in direction and an improvement in the quality of their representatives, the United States may see its influence further eroded in the face of emerging powers.
Jesús Daniel Romero became an officer through the Navy's Enlisted Program and graduated with honors from Norfolk State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He later graduated from the Naval Aviation Command's Pre-Flight Indoctrination Course and followed intermediate training in squadrons VT-10 and VT-86. He served aboard a nuclear missile cruiser, amphibious operation ships, and staff squadrons, a fixed-wing attack bombing squadron, and a carrier air wing, with deployments to Libya, Bosnia, Iraq, and Somalia. He served tours with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Panama, the Pacific Joint Intelligence Center in Hawaii, and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. Jesús and his team successfully targeted an international criminal organization operating in several countries and the United States, dismantling and disrupting criminal activities on behalf of Mexican cartels.
William L. Acosta is the founder and CEO of Equalizer Private Investigations & Security Services Inc., a licensed and bonded investigative agency in NYS, FL. With offices and affiliates worldwide, Equalizer maintains offices and subsidiaries in the United States in New York, Florida, and California. Since 1999, Equalizer's investigations have successfully closed hundreds of cases, ranging from homicides, missing persons, and other crimes. He has been involved in the criminal defense of hundreds of state and federal criminal cases ranging from homicide, narcotics, racketeering, money laundering, conspiracy, and other federal and state charges. He specializes in international and multijurisdictional investigations, and in recent years, has conducted investigations in Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, England, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, among other locations. He has directed or coordinated hundreds of investigations related to international drug trafficking, money laundering, and homicides; and has been an instructor and international speaker on various investigative topics. Specialties: Criminal Defense Investigations, International Investigations, Homicides, Undercover Narcotics Operations, Investigations, Asset Forfeiture Investigations, Conspiracy, International Human Trafficking, Surveillance, International Terrorism, Intelligence, Technical Surveillance Countermeasures, Internal Affairs Investigations, National Security.
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