Senate Republicans block Democratic resolution to curb Trump’s military authority over Cuba

US Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a Democratic-led effort to prevent President Donald Trump from launching military operations against Cuba without prior congressional authorization.

The resolution, backed by Senators Ruben Gallego, Tim Kaine, and Adam Schiff, was designed to bar the administration from employing military force to effect regime change in the island nation.

Democrats voiced mounting concerns over the possibility of an armed intervention following Trump’s order for a naval blockade of the country.

The Democratic caucus attempted to bring the measure to the Senate floor using expedited procedures under the 1973 War Powers Act.

However, the effort was derailed after Republicans sustained a procedural objection raised by Senator Rick Scott of Florida, which sought to keep the resolution within the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The motion passed 51-47.

In a statement regarding the matter, Scott argued that the measure was completely detached from the situation on the ground and bore no relation to current developments in Cuba.

Scott further noted that Trump has not proposed the deployment of ground troops to Cuba, characterizing the Democratic initiative as “entirely moot.”

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who faces a difficult re-election campaign in a Democratic-leaning state, and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, known for advocating for greater congressional authority over military interventions, were the only Republicans to support the war powers resolution.

Conversely, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the sole Democrat to vote in favor of the procedural objection that blocked the bill.

The resolution’s sponsors urged their colleagues to pre-emptively limit Trump’s military authorities. They specifically cited the ongoing naval blockade and comments made by the president last month at an event where he stated, “Cuba is next.”

Speaking ahead of the vote, Senator Ruben Gallego warned that Trump was threatening an intervention in Cuba on the heels of a “disastrous” war with Iran and subsequent spikes in oil prices.

Gallego stated that the American people are seeking lower costs, better healthcare, and affordable housing rather than a new conflict aimed at “pleasing neoconservatives in South Florida.”

Donald Trump’s “Cuba is next” remark was made during the Future Investment Initiative summit in Miami last month, specifically while discussing efforts to replace the government in Venezuela.

“We’ve been very successful. You know, when I went into Venezuela… I built this great military. I said you’d never have to use it, but sometimes you have to use it. By the way, Cuba is next,” Trump said during the speech.

Senator Tim Kaine argued that Cuba does not represent a national security threat that would justify a US strike.

Kaine highlighted the impact of the blockade on Cuban society—including food, medicine, and energy shortages—as well as the implications of Trump’s rhetoric.

“If someone did this to us, we would consider it a declaration of war,” Kaine remarked.

He questioned what the American public would think of a war against Cuba, emphasizing that the administration has never categorized the island as a direct threat to the US.

Kaine added that such a conflict would serve the sole purpose of regime change, which he argued does not constitute sufficient grounds for the US to go to war, particularly without a congressional debate.

Senate Republicans have previously rejected six Democratic attempts to halt military operations against Iran without congressional approval.

Rand Paul, a libertarian-leaning conservative, has consistently been the only Republican to join Democrats on resolutions concerning military action against Iran.

Senate Democrats saw their most significant success in curbing the president’s commander-in-chief powers when they persuaded five Republicans to support a measure blocking military operations in Venezuela.

In January, Paul and Collins were joined by Senators Lisa Murkowski, Todd Young, and Josh Hawley in that effort.

However, Young and Hawley later withdrew their support after Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged that the administration would not deploy troops to Venezuela without congressional consent.