The United States Embassy in Cuba issued strong criticisms against the Cuban regime, accusing it of clinging to a "failed and corrupt" model while blocking any real debate about its policies.
"The Cuban regime still relies on a failed and corrupt system, even decades later. Its true leaders are over 90 years old and have blocked any real debate about the validity of their failed policies," stated the U.S. Embassy on the island on social media.
Additionally, it shared a statement from July 21, in which the U.S. Department of State emphasizes that the cost of this obstinacy is borne by the Cuban people, who are facing food shortages, blackouts, a collapsing healthcare system, and constant repression.
This document analyzes how the regime continues to invest billions in tourism infrastructure controlled by military conglomerates such as GAESA, FINCIMEX, and CIMEX, while hospitals collapse and Cubans cannot access basic products like milk, fuel, or medicines.
Despite the hotel occupancy rate barely exceeding 30%, in 2024 the Cuban government allocated more than 37% of its total investment to the tourism sector, eleven times more than in health and education combined.
For the U.S., this confirms that the regime prioritizes business linked to the elite over social welfare, the text states.
The statement also criticizes the regime of Nicolás Maduro, pointing out its adherence to the same model of institutionalized corruption and propaganda, prioritizing control over development.
Despite collecting over 1.7 billion dollars in taxes in 2024, the minimum wage remained below 2 dollars per month, while millions were allocated to military intelligence and political campaigns.
The crumbling infrastructure, massive blackouts in at least 20 Venezuelan states, and the use of resources for internal repression are symptoms—says the text—of a dictatorship that has mortgaged the country's future in exchange for remaining in power.
For the Embassy, the issue in both Cuba and Venezuela is not about mistakes in economic policies, but rather about systems designed to benefit a corrupt and authoritarian elite.
Investments are not made according to the needs of the population, but rather based on the benefits they may generate for those in power.
"This is not a mistake. These are system features," states the communiqué from ShareAmerica, the official site of the Department of State.
"Both regimes blame sanctions and external factors, but the origin of their crises lies in decades of looting, repression, and opaque management," he expresses.
The United States urged the international community to continue denouncing corruption, nepotism, and repression by both regimes, and to amplify the voices of Cubans and Venezuelans who are demanding basic rights such as food, electricity, and freedom of expression.
The statement concludes that true change will only be possible with transparency, accountability, and a citizen-centered economy, not one centered on the regime's bureaucrats.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Situation in Cuba and the Cuban Regime
Why does the U.S. Embassy criticize the Cuban regime?
The U.S. Embassy criticizes the Cuban regime for clinging to a failed and corrupt model that harms the Cuban people. According to the statement, the regime prioritizes investments in tourist infrastructure controlled by military conglomerates while neglecting essential sectors such as health and education, resulting in food shortages, blackouts, and a healthcare system collapse.
How does tourism investment affect social welfare in Cuba?
Tourist investment in Cuba negatively impacts social well-being because the regime allocates more resources to this sector than to health and education combined. This occurs despite the low hotel occupancy rates, which shows that investments are not aligned with the needs of the population, but rather with the interests of the ruling elite.
What parallels can be drawn between the regimes of Cuba and Venezuela?
The regimes of Cuba and Venezuela are accused of maintaining models that benefit corrupt and authoritarian elites. Both prioritize political control over social development, which results in corruption, repression, and opaque management. In Venezuela, there is criticism of investment in military intelligence and political campaigns at the expense of basic services.
What is the U.S. stance on sanctions and the crisis in Cuba and Venezuela?
The U.S. maintains that the crisis in Cuba and Venezuela is the result of corruption and poor internal management, rather than external sanctions. The U.S. government urges the international community to denounce corruption and support citizens demanding basic rights, emphasizing that the true solution lies in transparency and accountability.
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