The Republican-controlled Senate is not likely to confirm President Barack Obama's nomination of career diplomat Jeffrey DeLaurentis as the first U.S. ambassador to Cuba in more than 50 years.
Obama made the nomination of DeLaurentis, currently the top diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, official on Tuesday, but Republicans who opposed Obama's move to normalize relations with Cuba in December 2014 have vowed to fight approval of any ambassador to the communist country.
Obama says DeLaurentis' leadership was vital throughout the normalization process. He says nominating an ambassador is a "common-sense" step toward more normal and productive relations between the two countries.
Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced the resumption of diplomatic relations in December 2014.
California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee voiced optimism for DeLaurentis' confirmation on Twitter.
But Senate Republicans, including South Carolina's Lindsey Graham and Florida's Marco Rubio, have previously said they will fight any nomination. Rubio's parents fled Cuba before he was born.
The two say they still believe the Castros commit human rights violations against its citizens.
"A U.S. ambassador is not going to influence the Cuban government, which is a dictatorial, closed regime," Rubio said earlier this year, according to The Hill.
Republican Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen concurred:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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