Cuban-American Influence Set to Shape U.S. Latin America Policy in Trump's Second Term

Carlos Trujillo, in his role as U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), speaks during a special meeting on the situation in Venezuela in Washington, D.C., on February 15, 2019. (Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Carlos Trujillo, a Cuban-American diplomat, is rumored to be nominated for assistant secretary of state for Latin American affairs, alongside Senator Marco Rubio as the head of the Department, in the upcoming Trump administration, the Miami Herald reported. His career has drawn controversy, particularly for his hard-line stance on economic sanctions and his key role in providing the pretext for the 2019 coup d'etat in Bolivia.

Trujillo, who served as U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) during Trump's first term, is known for advocating stringent economic sanctions against Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. His support for these sanctions, which critics argue disproportionately harm civilians, is a hallmark of his foreign policy approach. Trujillo's policies have intensified the isolation of regimes in these countries, which he and others label as authoritarian.