MIAMI, USA- The president-elect of the United States, donald trumpannounced that Mauricio Claver-Caroneof Cuban origin, will be his special envoy for Latin America.
With extensive experience in international politics, Claver-Carone will be tasked with addressing key challenges in the region, such as migration, the rise of communist dictatorships to power and drug trafficking.
The Cuban-American has experience in this area and during Trump’s first term he had already participated as main director for Latin America in the National Security Council. In this role he was a central figure in the implementation of sanctions against the Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela.
In addition, he held relevant positions in the Treasury Department and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The former president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is known for his focus on strengthening the influence of smaller countries in the region against powers such as Argentina and Brazil, according to Reuters.
Republican congressman Mario Díaz-Balart celebrated appointment and described Claver-Carone as a “freedom fighter” committed to defending democracy in countries under authoritarian regimes, such as Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Díaz-Balart stressed that the new special envoy will prioritize the national security of the United States and avoid agreements that benefit dictators.
The announcement, along with the candidacies of Marco Rubio as possible Secretary of State and Christopher Landau as deputy secretary, reflects the Trump administration’s interest in the region.
“The dictatorships in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela are fragile and faltering. January 20 cannot come soon enough,” Díaz-Balart concluded.
Claver-Carone was born in Miami, Florida in 1975 and comes from a family of Spanish and Cuban origin. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Rollins College, a J.D. from the Catholic University of America, and a master’s degree in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University Law Center.
