Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday that the U.S. won’t have to send troops to Venezuela if Cuba ceases its support for the country’s disputed president.
"The important thing to remember about Venezuela is there are thousands of Cubans there that are basically controlling things," Thornberry told Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom” on Tuesday.
"They're the security forces and making sure the military stays in line."
The congressman’s claim was supported by national security adviser John Bolton, who has said that Cuba has at least 20,000 troops in Venezuela, something the Cuban government has denied. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has refused to leave office despite opposition from Juan Guaido, who has been recognized by the U.S. and other nations as the rightful president of Venezuela.
"I believe that Juan Guaido would already be acting as president of all of Venezuela if the Cubans have not been present," Thornberry said, adding that the U.S. should avoid “direct military engagement” in Venezuela, but also make sure not to rule it out if necessary.
"It is very important you don't say what you will never do because we want the pressure to be on Maduro and the Cubans who are there propping him up," he said. "The truth is, the Cubans need to let the Venezuelan people decide this. If they do none of us have to get involved.”