On Tuesday, the United States Senate voted down a measure that would have prevented President Trump from launching military action against Cuba without securing authorization from Congress beforehand. The final tally showed 51 senators opposed to advancing the resolution, while 47 supported it.
Three Democratic senators—Tim Kaine of Virginia, Adam Schiff of California, and Ruben Gallego of Arizona—brought forward the resolution by invoking the War Powers Act of 1973. Their action forced the Senate to hold a vote on the matter. The lawmakers pointed to recent American military engagements in Venezuela and Iran, along with President Trump’s statement in March indicating that “Cuba’s next,” as justification for their proposal.
This vote represents the latest in a series of similar congressional efforts that have failed to gain traction in the Republican-controlled Senate. Previous attempts to restrict military operations concerning Venezuela and Iran have also been unsuccessful in recent weeks.
The relationship between Washington and Havana has been strained for more than six decades, dating back to when Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 following a communist revolution. During the 1960s, the American government mounted efforts to remove Castro from leadership. The CIA provided weapons and training to Cuban exiles who attempted to retake their homeland in April 1961, though the invasion ultimately failed. Following this setback, the CIA continued developing clandestine operations designed to undermine Castro’s grip on power through a program called Operation Mongoose.
For decades, the United States has maintained economic sanctions and trade restrictions targeting Cuba. During Castro’s tenure, the island nation formed a close alliance with the Soviet Union. Today, under President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Cuba continues maintaining relationships with Russia, China, and Venezuela.
The Cuban government confirmed that 32 of its soldiers who were assigned to protect Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro died during the January 3 American military operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture.
President Trump issued an executive order on January 29 designating Cuba as “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to American national security and foreign policy interests. The directive highlights Cuba’s ongoing military collaboration with China, Russia, and Iran, while also claiming that Havana has provided haven to designated terrorist organizations including Hamas and Hezbollah.
The January 29 executive order included new tariff measures targeting nations that sell petroleum to Cuba. The Caribbean nation has recently experienced electrical blackouts as it struggles to maintain adequate energy supplies.
Prior to Tuesday’s vote, Senator Schiff criticized the president’s approach, stating that Trump has circumvented Congress’s exclusive constitutional authority to declare war through attacks on Iran and Venezuela. He suggested that the president’s threatening language regarding Cuba clearly indicates the administration’s next target.
Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida defended the administration by addressing the Senate chamber and arguing that the Democratic resolution lacks practical relevance since American military personnel are not currently stationed in Cuba. Scott emphasized that President Trump has never expressed a desire to deploy ground troops, noting that even his Republican colleagues, including Senator Lindsey Graham, have not advocated for such action.
Despite Trump’s recent comments referencing a potential “takeover” of Cuba, General Francis Donovan, who commands U.S. military operations throughout Latin America, provided testimony during a March 19 Senate hearing. He confirmed that his command is not currently making preparations for military operations involving the island nation.
The failed resolution underscores the ongoing tension between the executive and legislative branches regarding war powers and military authorization, particularly as the Trump administration continues pursuing an aggressive foreign policy stance toward nations it considers adversarial to American interests in the Western Hemisphere and beyond.