By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 15, 2023 — In a diplomatic note to the United States Embassy in Nassau, the Bahama Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken issue with incendiary remarks made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about how Florida would respond if a similar disagreement developed between Florida and The Bahamas as the current dispute between Israel and Hamas.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise that the Ministry officials exchanged Diplomatic Notes today with the Embassy of the United States. Ministry officials sought to clarify the context of the remarks made by Ron DeSantis, Governor of the State of Florida, during the 11th November event held in Muscadine Florida as reported in the press”
“What are you supposed to do?” DeSantis is reported as saying. “I mean, I used to say even when they would just fire the normal rockets because they’ve been firing these rockets for years and years. And I thought to myself, like, if the Bahamas were firing rockets into Fort Lauderdale, like, we would not accept that for, like, one minute. I mean, we would just level it. We would never be willing to live like that as Americans.”
In its statement, the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Embassy of the United States of America informed the Ministry that:
“The Bahamas and the United States enjoy an enduring and unique partnership. Chargé d’Affaires Usha Pitts regrets if DeSantis’ comments suggested anything other than a close alliance between our two democratic nations. The USS Leyte Gulf, a U.S. navy cruiser recently in the Nassau harbour, illustrates our strong mutual security relationship. We have been allies and friends for 50 years and are looking forward to the next 50.”
Reporting on DeSantis’ remarks, The Nassau Guardian, one of The Bahamas’ leading newspapers, in its Tuesday, November 14, edition, reported that the conflict “between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has prompted statements from many corners, including from leaders in governments around the world.”
“The issue has also taken center-stage in the United States Republican presidential nominee race, with contenders offering opinions on a consistent basis,” The Guardian noted. “It is no surprise to hear of the conflict in the news cycle; it is one of the most visible issues on the planet. Israel is currently conducting an air and ground assault of the Gaza Strip after Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and butchered over 1,000 citizens, including children, then took hostages back over the border.”
The Guardian article added, “Prior to the assault, Hamas had long shot rockets over the border wall surrounding Gaza into Israel, with Israel often responding in kind. It is a protracted bloody engagement that ebbs and flows, but never rests.
“There is no comparable situation in the region. We were quite surprised, then, to hear The Bahamas mentioned in an analogy about the conflict by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running for the Republican nomination for president.
“According to website Florida Politics, at an event Saturday in Muscadine, Iowa, the governor defended Israel’s bombardment of Gaza by comparing the US to Israel and The Bahamas to Gaza.
“What are you supposed to do? I mean, I used to say even when they would just fire the normal rockets because they’ve been firing these rockets for years and years,” DeSantis said. “And I thought to myself, like, if The Bahamas were firing rockets into Fort Lauderdale, like, we would not accept that for, like, one minute. I mean, we would just level it. We would never be willing to live like that as Americans.”
The Guardian’s article added, “We find this analogy patently bizarre and somewhat offensive. To begin with, The Bahamas has been friends with the United States of America for longer than the state of Israel has existed.
“We have deep diplomatic ties with the US, which is currently building a large embassy. The United States operates a naval base in The Bahamas and more than one military cooperation agreement exists between our two countries, notably Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT).
“There is visa-free travel between our countries and on any given day there are thousands of US citizens here.”
Continuing, The Guardian’s article added, “DeSantis also knows that many, many American citizens live in The Bahamas, and have done so for generations. The historical ties between the state of Florida, more specifically, and The Bahamas are deeply-rooted and multifaceted, shaped by centuries of interactions, trade, and cultural exchanges.
“After the American Revolutionary War, many loyalists who remained loyal to the British Crown migrated to The Bahamas and Florida. This migration led to cultural and economic ties between the two regions.
“Throughout the 19th century, economic ties between The Bahamas and Florida strengthened, with trade routes and maritime activities contributing to mutual prosperity.
“In the 20th century, the tourism industry played a significant role in connecting Florida and The Bahamas. Today, economic partnerships continue to exist between Florida and The Bahamas, driven by trade, tourism, and business collaborations. Many businesses and investors have interests in both regions.
“Both of Florida’s senators are very supportive of The Bahamas and we have had excellent relationships with many US presidents and elder statesmen.
“Florida is also home to many descendants of Bahamians. The Bahamas has a great friend in the United States of America, which has never hesitated to come to our aid in our hour of need.
“The majority of Bahamian citizens who seek tertiary education are facilitated in the US. Many Bahamians who cannot get the level of medical care they need here receive it in the US. There is no circumstance under which anyone connected to our government would seek to attack the United States without The Bahamas immediately working with the US government to prevent and end it.
“Additionally, The Bahamas has no rockets to fire at anyone and has no interest with waging war with any country nor the capacity to do so, much less with our largest trading partner and greatest consumer market, which happens to have the world’s largest military.”
The Guardian, nonetheless, concluded: “We do not believe there was any malice in DeSantis’ remarks. We believe he was seeking to make an analogy about the capacity to tolerate aggression from a close neighbor; however, it was a baffling one and indelicately done.”
