{"id":303910,"date":"2024-06-15T13:11:47","date_gmt":"2024-06-15T17:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=303910"},"modified":"2024-06-15T13:17:14","modified_gmt":"2024-06-15T17:17:14","slug":"u-s-restates-support-for-private-sector-in-cuba-now-as-a-breakwater-to-influence-of-russia-and-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba-usa\/u-s-restates-support-for-private-sector-in-cuba-now-as-a-breakwater-to-influence-of-russia-and-china\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. restates support for private sector in Cuba, now as a breakwater to influence of Russia and China"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States government reiterated its intention to support the growing private sector in Cuba to contain the historical influence of Moscow and Beijing on the island over more than six decades.<\/span><\/p>\n

At a hearing Thursday in the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols said the United States remains concerned about attempts by Russia and China to shape the nature of Cuba\u2019s future.<\/span><\/p>\n

The congressional event inquired about the topic entitled \u201cCompetition between large powers in the Western Hemisphere,\u201d two hundred years after the implementation of the Monroe Doctrine, a key strategy of U.S. foreign policy to defend its interests in Latin America and the Caribbean, then belonging to colonial European powers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Against the \u201cevil influence\u201d of Russia and China<\/b><\/p>\n

In the case of Cuba, Nichols argued that greater support from Washington for the emerging private business sector remains vital to countering \u201cthe evil influence\u201d of Russia and the People\u2019s Republic of China, adding that the promotion of private enterprise is only one of the U.S. actions in Cuba.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe constantly advocate for respect for the fundamental freedoms of Cubans and for the release of political prisoners,\u201d said the diplomat.<\/span><\/p>\n

In April, and on an official visit to Spain, Nichols highlighted the importance that the work of small businesspeople and entrepreneurs is acquiring in the Cuban economy; \u201cthey are providing the people with what the government cannot give them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have reasons to be hopeful and we are going to continue supporting these enterprises that provide work, supplies, and food to Cubans,\u201d the official stressed then, as summarized by the Spanish news agency EFE.<\/span><\/p>\n