The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated this Friday in France that Cuba has no oil or fuel because they want it for free, and described the Cuban economic system as a "disaster" and "nonsensical."
Rubio made these statements at a press conference held on the sidelines of the meeting of G7 foreign ministers at the Abbey of Vaux-de-Cernay in France, where the main topics on the agenda were the crisis with Iran and support for Ukraine.
"The reason Cuba has no oil or fuel is because they want it for free. And people do not regularly give away oil or fuel, unless it was the Soviet Union subsidizing them or Maduro subsidizing them," Rubio stated to the press.
The head of U.S. diplomacy pointed out that the blackouts affecting the island are due to two causes: a lack of fuel and the use of equipment from the 1950s and 1960s that has never been maintained or updated.
"The reason Cuba is a disaster is that its economic system does not work. It is a nonsensical system," Rubio stated, adding that "the Cuban people are suffering because of the decisions and the lack of will of those who govern the country to make the necessary changes and be able to join the 21st century."
Rubio also rejected the Cuban regime's argument that the crisis is due to the U.S. embargo: There is no naval blockade surrounding Cuba, he stated emphatically.
The Secretary of State emphasized that Cuba has been experiencing blackouts "throughout last year and the year before," and that the historical dependence on external subsidies, first from the Soviets, then from the Venezuelans, is the root of the island's structural problem.
The Cuban energy crisis has reached extreme levels. As of March 25, Cuba recorded an electricity demand of 3,000 megawatts compared to a mere availability of 1,145 megawatts, with power outages lasting up to 20 to 25 hours a day affecting 63% of the country.
The collapse worsened in January 2026 following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, which interrupted the supply of between 25,000 and 35,000 daily barrels of Venezuelan oil that accounted for two-thirds of Cuba's imports and 76% of its electricity generation.
Mexico also suspended its shipments on January 9 under pressure from Washington, and on January 29, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional oil embargo on Cuba.
On March 26, the UN launched a humanitarian plan of 94.1 million dollars to ensure fuel for critical services in Cuba, warning of the risk of "loss of life."
Rubio concluded his statements with a reflection that he described as "something very sad": "It's sad that the only place where Cubans can succeed is if they leave the country".
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