Sen. Cruz on FARC Developments: 'President Biden has Shown Remarkable Commitment and Purpose in Dismantling Terrorism Sanctions Against Violent Groups that Threaten the National Security of the United States and Our Allies'
Calls for Congressional action to restore allies' confidence and pressure on terrorist groups
HOUSTON, Texas – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. State Department notified Congress it intends to change the status of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which is listed as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO):
“President Biden's foreign policy long ago veered into inconsistency and incoherence, but he has shown remarkable commitment and purpose in dismantling terrorism sanctions against violent groups that threaten the national security of us and our allies.
"Biden-Harris officials made it a Week 1 priority to take the Iran-controlled Houthis off the terrorism list, and the Houthis responded by escalating their aggression and further hindering humanitarian assistance.
"Now the administration is taking steps to do the same thing for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The results of such a reckless, ideologically-driven decision will also be the same.
"The FARC is an organization of Marxist–Leninist narco-terrorists. For decades they have killed, kidnapped, and extorted Colombians. They have murdered and seized American citizens. They continue to pose an acute threat to Colombian security and to American interests across the region.
"Instead of bolstering our Colombian allies as they battled against the FARC and trying to bring FARC members to justice, the Biden administration is again preparing to abandon our allies and appease terrorists. Removing FARC from the list of terrorism organizations will embolden them to widen their violence and interfere with civilian activities.
"It is long past time for Congress to take action and restore oversight over this administration's foreign policy, and to signal to our allies that we stand with them and to terrorist groups that they will be held accountable.”
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