Senate Republicans block Democrats' attempt to force Cuba war powers vote
President Trump has warned that Cuba is "next" after he's launched military operations against Venezuela and Iran.
Washington — Senate Democrats on Tuesday tried to force a vote on a measure to prevent President Trump from launching a military attack on Cuba, as he repeatedly threatens action against the island.
But Republicans blocked the procedural vote from moving forward, arguing that the U.S. isn't engaged in hostilities with Cuba. The issue is "moot," GOP Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said.
Democrats are seeking to get ahead of the president on Cuba after he took unilateral action against Venezuela and Iran.
The resolution was introduced in March by Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, who has also spearheaded the efforts in the Senate to rein in Mr. Trump on Venezuela and Iran. More than half a dozen votes related to military action in those countries have yielded similar results, with most Republicans voting down restrictions on military action and defending the president's broad authority to use military force.
"I've never heard the suggestion that Cuba poses an imminent security threat to the United States," Kaine said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote.
Since the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, Mr. Trump has warned that he has had his sights set on Cuba. He has said that he believed he would have "the honor of taking Cuba" and that "Cuba's going to be next."