The analyst and former Cuban political prisoner, Luis Zúñiga, issued a public warning about the risks of the Trump administration's strategy toward Cuba shifting to a predominantly economic focus, sidelining the central goal of ending the dictatorship.
"I have a great concern because a group of senators has already emerged in Washington who are trying to interfere with the actions that President Donald Trump has announced for a change in Cuba," declared Zúñiga in a video through CubaNet.
The analyst noted that credible rumors are circulating about a possible deviation from the course.
"There are rumors that hold some credibility because they come from former high-ranking officials of Republican administrations, suggesting that the transformation process the president wants to implement for Cuba is shifting towards economic initiatives and not an end to the dictatorship," he stated.
For Zúñiga, betting on economic reforms as a lever for political change would be a historic mistake.
"The historical experience teaches that no communist country has undergone economic transitions. It would be a historical ignorance to believe that Cuba's process would be led by an economic change, only to then expect political changes," he stated emphatically.
The political prisoner, who served 14 out of the 25 years he was sentenced to by the regime before being expelled from Cuba in 1988, used the Chinese case as an example to illustrate the danger.
"American entrepreneurs in China have historically refused to follow the instructions or requirements of the U.S. government, claiming that if they do, they will face serious repercussions from the Chinese government," he stated
Zúñiga was adamant about who should lead any economic transformation on the island: "Any deviated course, that is not political freedom first and then the economic transformation, should be carried out by the authorities elected by the people of Cuba."
His warnings also highlight the political consequences of a potential failure.
"We must ensure that Washington is not pushed down the wrong path because the consequences would be very dire for both sides," he stated.
And he added: "The Republican Party would face serious consequences if Cuba's freedom goes off track or is led down the wrong path that we know will end in disaster."
Despite the alert tone, Zúñiga expressed confidence in at least one of the key players in Washington: "I am sure that at least Marco Rubio, our Secretary of State, is aware of what I am saying."
His words come at a time of intense diplomatic activity.
This week, the Secretary of State stated that "Cuba needs new people in charge" and that "its economy isn't working," while Trump claimed that "Cuba is talking with Marco Rubio" and promised to act "very soon."
In parallel, the regime announced reforms that allow Cubans abroad to invest and own businesses on the island, measures that the majority of the exiles outright rejected.
Orlando Gutiérrez, from the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance, summarized the majority position: "Investments must wait until Cuba is free."
Zúñiga's position aligns with that of many sectors of the exile community who fear that Washington will accept a mere facade of change without genuine freedom for the Cuban people, in a scenario where the Helms-Burton Law requires, for any lifting of the embargo, the removal of Castro regime figures, freedom of expression, and multiparty elections, conditions that the regime has not fulfilled.
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