The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, published a message addressed to the Cuban people this Wednesday, in which he presented a specific economic and political proposal for Cuba, taking advantage of the 124th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.
"President Trump is offering a new relationship between the United States and Cuba, but it must be directly with you, the Cuban people, and not with GAESA," Rubio warned.
He was direct with the Cubans from the start of his message: "The real reason you don't have electricity, fuel, or food is that those who control your country have robbed billions of dollars, and none of that has been used to help the people."
The Secretary of State pointed to GAESA as the true power in Cuba, describing the military conglomerate as "a state within a state that is accountable to no one and that monopolizes the profits from its businesses to benefit a small elite."
According to Rubio, GAESA —founded 30 years ago by Raúl Castro and operated by the Armed Forces— controls 70% of the Cuban economy and has 18 billion dollars in assets, with revenues three times greater than the government budget.
The conglomerate profits from hotels, banks, stores, construction, and even from the remittances that families send from the United States, from which it retains a percentage without any of it reaching the people.
Rubio rejected the official narrative about the blackouts: "The reason they are forced to survive up to 22 hours a day without electricity is not due to a petroleum blockade by the United States."
He explained that the regime relied for years on the free oil from Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, and that after losing that subsidy, it is now purchasing fuel for its generators and vehicles while asking the people to make sacrifices.
The proposal of the Trump administration
Rubio's proposal for Cuba in 2026 has two components. The first is immediate: a $100 million offer in food and medicine contingent upon distribution being carried out by the Catholic Church or other trusted charitable organizations, "not stolen by GAESA to sell in their stores."
The second is structural: a vision of “new Cuba” where citizens can own gas stations, shops, restaurants, banks, construction companies, and media outlets.
Rebuild the country so that Cubans can criticize the government without fear of imprisonment and choose their leaders through voting.
"Today, from media to entertainment, from business to politics, from music to sports, Cubans have reached the pinnacle of virtually every industry in every country, except for one: Cuba," Rubio stated.
The secretary compared that reality to that of neighboring countries: "If having a business of your own and the right to vote is possible around Cuba, why shouldn't it be possible within Cuba?"
The message is part of a escalation of pressure from the Trump administration against the regime and coincides with the worst moment of the Cuban electricity crisis in years.
Rubio concluded the video with a direct warning: "The only thing standing in the way of a better future is those who control your country."
Full message from Marco Rubio to the Cubans, May 20, 2026
On a day like today, in 1902, the Cuban flag flew for the first time over an independent nation. But I know that today, you who call the Island your home, are facing unimaginable hardships.
Today, I want to share with you the truth about the reason for your suffering and tell you what we, in the United States, are offering to help you not only alleviate the current crisis but also build a better future.
The reason they are forced to survive up to 22 hours a day without electricity is not due to an oil blockade from the United States. As you know better than anyone, they have been suffering from blackouts for years.
The real reason they have no electricity, fuel, or food is that those who control their country have looted billions of dollars, and none of that has been used to help the people.
Thirty years ago, Raúl Castro founded a company called GAESA. This company belongs to the Armed Forces and is operated by them. It generates revenue three times greater than the budget of the Cuban government.
Today, while you suffer, these business elites control 18 billion dollars in assets and dominate 70% of the Cuban economy.
They earn profits from hotels, construction projects, banks, shops, and even from money their relatives send them from the United States. Everything passes through their hands.
A percentage of those remittances is retained, but none of GAESA's profits reach the Cuban people.
Instead of using that money to buy oil, as other countries around the world do, they relied for years on the free oil sent by Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro to keep the money for themselves.
But now that they no longer receive that oil for free, they buy fuel for their generators and vehicles, while the people are asked to continue making sacrifices.
Instead of using the money to maintain and modernize the damaged power plants, they use it to build more hotels for foreigners and send their relatives to live in luxury in Madrid and even the United States.
Today, Cuba is not controlled by any revolution. Cuba is controlled by GAESA: a state within a state that answers to no one and monopolizes the profits from its businesses to benefit a small elite.
And the only role played by the so-called government is to demand that you continue to sacrifice yourselves and to suppress anyone who dares to protest.
President Trump offers a new relationship between the United States and Cuba, but it must be directly with you, the Cuban people, and not with GAESA.
First, we are offering 100 million dollars in food and medicine for you, the people, but this aid must be distributed directly by the Catholic Church or other trusted charitable organizations, not stolen by GAESA to sell in their stores.
But the Cuban people are not interested in living off permanent charity.
You want the opportunity to live in your own country just as your relatives do in the United States and in other countries around the world.
Today, from the media to entertainment, from business to politics, from music to sports, Cubans have reached the top of nearly every industry in every country, except for one: Cuba.
Today, in Cuba, only those who are close to the GAESA elite or are part of it can have profitable businesses.
But President Trump offers a new pathway between the United States and a new Cuba.
A new Cuba where you, the everyday Cubans, and not just GAESA, can own a gas station, a clothing store, or a restaurant.
A new Cuba where you, and not just GAESA, can open a bank or have a construction company.
A new Cuba where you, and not just the Communist Party, can own a television station or a newspaper.
A new Cuba where they can criticize a failing system without fear of imprisonment or being forced to leave the Island.
And a new Cuba where they have the real opportunity to choose who governs the country and to vote to replace them if they do not do their job well.
This is not impossible.
All of that exists in the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and even just 90 miles away, in Florida.
If having a business of your own and the right to vote is possible around Cuba, why can't it be possible within Cuba?
In the United States, we are ready to open a new chapter in the relationship between our peoples.
And today, the only thing standing in the way of a better future is those who control their country.
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