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The former National Security Advisor of the United States, John Bolton, harshly criticized any easing that allows fuel sales to Cuba under the premise of benefiting the private sector.
Bolton asserted that on the island, "there is no private sector" that can operate independently of the regime.
In an interview with NewsNation, Bolton stated that it would be "absolutely astonishing" for the Department of the Treasury to authorize oil sales to alleged private Cuban companies.
"Let's be clear, there is no private sector in Cuba that buys oil unless it does so through the Cuban government," he stated. In his view, allowing this type of operation could become "a lifeline" for the regime.
Bolton warned that this policy "raises questions about whether we are giving a lifeline or not" to the government of Havana, amid the severe energy crisis the country is experiencing.
Bolton: doubts about the actual scope of the measure
The American political analyst emphasized that concrete information about the announcement is still lacking, but insisted that any scheme involving energy transactions in Cuba ultimately falls under state control.
"There's a lot going on here that is very uncertain," he said, questioning the feasibility of distinguishing between the private sector and structures controlled by political and military power.
His statements come in the context of severe fuel shortages in Cuba, following reduced shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, which have led to prolonged blackouts and partial halts in transportation and production.
Trump's strategy and Rubio's position
The administration of President Donald Trump has argued that allowing limited fuel exports to private actors in Cuba is part of a strategy to increase the United States' influence on the island and encourage gradual transformations.
The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, recently stated that "it has always been legal to sell to the private sector in Cuba," and that this does not involve supplies to the government or GAESA, the military conglomerate.
Rubio stated that the sales would be to "a very small private sector" and warned that the licenses would be revoked if any diversion towards the regime is detected.
He also blamed the Cuban authorities for the current economic and energy crisis, stating that the suffering of the people is not due to a lack of willingness to help from Washington, but rather to the decisions made by the communist system itself.
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