Thread by @reuterssarah

1/ The #USA doubled down on its tough stance and sanctions on #Cuba after historic protests & said it would seek to support protesters.

But many countries in Latin America & the Caribbean which has shifted left lately, are asking it to back off instead

reuters.com/world/americas…

2/ The right-wing governments of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala & Honduras joined the #USA in a statement condemning #Cuba's crackdown on protesters

Yet only 20 countries worldwide signed, signalling how isolated DC is on Cuba policy, analysts said

reuters.com/world/americas…

3/ Meanwhile, #Cuba's leftist allies in Latin America and fellow Caribbean nations have focused their reaction on the contribution of the U.S. embargo to the country's current humanitarian crisis, urging Washington to lift sanctions. Some have sent aid.

reuters.com/world/americas…

4/ These regional divisions came to the fore when the OAS had to postpone a meeting on the rights situation in Cuba due to objections by member states.

#Cuba has not been an active member since 1962 when the OAS suspended its membership

reuters.com/world/americas…

5/ "Any discussion could only satisfy political hawks with an eye on U.S. mid-term elections where winning South Florida with the backing of Cuban exiles would be a prize," wrote Antigua & Barbuda's OAS ambassador

jamaica-gleaner.com/article/commen…

6/ Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador - who has become more assertive in support for #Cuba since Trump's departure - said the OAS should be replaced "by a body that is truly autonomous, not anybody’s lackey", sentiments echoed by Argentina

reuters.com/world/americas…

7/ Mexico, Argentina & Bolivia shifted left in recent years, while Peru last month voted in a socialist leader and Chile and Brazil appear poised to move to the left in elections this year and next, which could mean U.S. regional influence further waning

reuters.com/world/americas…

8/ The Chair of the OAS Permanent Council described the objections to the meeting on human rights in Cuba as "particularly unusual".

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said it was "deeply disappointed" the meeting did not take place but hoped it would in coming days.

9/ #Cuba expert @WMLeoGrande said Biden was inheriting a regional foreign policy from #Trump focused mainly on Nicaragua, Cuba & Venezuela that had alienated much of Latin America, pointing out the Latinbarometer opinion poll showed a sharp decline in the image of the #USA

10/ Analysts say the protests have complicated Biden's leeway to ease sanctions on #Cuba as he had vowed during his campaign, especially after he made a poorer-than-expected showing with voters in south Florida's anti-communist Cuban-American community.

reuters.com/article/us-usa…

11/ The Democratic National Committee has launched a digital ad campaign in Florida highlighting Biden's "commitment to the Cuban people and condemnation of communism as a failed system."

miamiherald.com/news/politics-…