Cuba, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico show up together in discussions in the news and social media. What do the three have to do with one another? Certainly, the three have strong cultural and historical ties. But there are three contexts in which these three places tend to be brought up together.
Cuba and Venezuela want Puerto Rican independence
Cuba and Venezuela make annual demands of the U.N. to support independence for Puerto Rico. Many observers agree that Cuba and Venezuela, both well known for their lack of human rights, are not really in a position to make these kinds of demands. An article at CiberCuba says it simply: “That the Cuban regime has presented a resolution to the UN Committee on Decolonization regarding the self-determination and independence of Puerto Rico, and that Venezuela has joined as a co-sponsor, represents a profound ethical contradiction. Puerto Rican self-determination is a legitimate right; however, no government that prevents its own people from freely deciding has the moral authority to position itself as their defender.”
While serving as Resident Commissioner, Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon explained, “It is no surprise that Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela, who are amongst the worst human rights violators and anti-democratic regimes in the world, are the ones calling for Puerto Rico’s independence in an attempt to advance their anti-American agenda and grow their influence in the region. To the people of Puerto Rico and our fellow Americans across States, take a hard look at who’s calling for the Island’s independence. These are not our friends and allies.”
All three have been mentioned as potential states
President Trump said he was “seriously considering” making Venezuela the 51st state. Presidents do not have this power, but he could ask Congress to do so. He has not specifically said he wants Cuba to become a state, but has said he expects to “take” Cuba. Cuba, a former territory of the United States, has never been considered for statehood before. Puerto Rico, of course, is a U.S. territory and eligible for statehood.
A recent national survey of Hispanic voters across the nation found that these voters do not support statehood for Cuba.
Nor do they favor statehood for Venezuela.
They do support statehood for Puerto Rico
No scientific polling has been done for American voters overall, but Pew Research found that 45% of Americans (the largest number) didn’t think the United States should be involved in Venezuela’s government, a position which would preclude statehood.
Venezuela and Cuba as cautionary tales for Puerto Rico
Gustavo Vélez wrote that Puerto Rico could become the mirror of Venezuela, pointing out the authoritarianism and economic collapse the South American nation has faced.
Social media has many similar statements:
- “What you are asking is to get away from all this progress, to the misery of dictatorship countries like Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua.”
- “So far the majority lean towards statehood upwards to 65%+ and slowly growing, but we are firmly purple. I think purple is fair since we have a tendency to exert extreme ‘passion’ for what we believe in. I just don’t want to become Cuba or Venezuela. Communism and Socialism would be a death sentence.”
- “If you don’t like it, renounce your American citizenship and move to Cuba or Venezuela, and then tell us, if they let you, if the gas is running out.”
While some separatists suggest Singapore as an example of how Puerto Rico could fare as an independent nation, those opposed to independence often suggest that Cuba and Venezuela give more accurate pictures of a Republic of Puerto Rico’s future.
