The Secretary of State Marco Rubio will publish a message in Spanish directed to the Cuban people this Wednesday in celebration of Independence Day, marking the first time he addresses the island’s population directly since taking office.
The video, which will be distributed by the State Department via YouTube, is part of the Trump administration's multidimensional pressure campaign against the regime in Havana.
According to the report from Axios, the U.S. media outlet that broke the story, Rubio will focus his speech on GAESA, the Cuban military conglomerate founded by Raúl Castro, which he attributes estimated assets of 18 billion dollars and control of 70% of the island's economy, including hotels, construction, banks, stores, and the flow of remittances from the United States.
"The real reason why they have no electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control their country have pillaged billions of dollars, but none of it has been used to help the people," Rubio stated in the speech.
The Secretary of State was direct in pointing out the real power behind the regime: "Cuba is not controlled by any 'revolution'. Cuba is controlled by GAESA".
He also criticized the ruling elite: «The only role the so-called "government" plays is to demand that they continue to make "sacrifices" and to suppress anyone who dares to complain».
Rubio contrasted the misery of the average Cuban—who has electricity available for only two hours a day in some areas—with the wealth of the elites that run GAESA, aiming to demonstrate that revolutionary communism is a kleptocratic farce.
On behalf of the Trump administration, Rubio offered 100 million dollars in food and medicine for the Cuban people, on the condition that their distribution be managed by the Catholic Church or other trusted charitable organizations, and not by the regime. “Not stolen by GAESA to sell in one of their stores,” he specified.
President Trump offers a new relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. But it must be directly with you, the Cuban people, not with GAESA, Rubio emphasized.
The speech takes place on a day filled with symbolism: this Wednesday, the Department of Justice will announce the federal charges against Raúl Castro for having ordered the downing of two aircraft from the organization Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, resulting in the deaths of four Cuban Americans.
The indictment, presented to a federal grand jury in Miami, is the result of years of pressure from Cuban-American congress members and has mainly symbolic significance, given that Castro does not set foot on U.S. territory and there is no extradition treaty with Cuba.
This May 20th also marks the birth of Cuba as a republic in 1902, following the Spanish-American War. The date has not been celebrated on the island since the government of the dictator Fidel Castro removed it from the official calendar after the 1959 revolution.
The pressure from Washington on Havana has intensified in recent weeks: on May 1, Trump signed an executive order imposing new sanctions, and on May 7, Rubio announced direct sanctions against GAESA and its president, Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera.
Rubio highlighted the potential of Cubans abroad to conclude his message with a promise: "Today, from media to entertainment, from the private sector to politics, and from music to sports, Cubans have reached the pinnacle of virtually EVERY industry, in every country, except one... Cuba."
"This is not impossible. All of this exists in the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and even just 90 miles away in Florida. If having your own business and the right to vote is possible around Cuba, why is it not possible for you in Cuba?" he concluded.
Message from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Cuban people
On a day like today, in 1902, the Cuban flag flew for the first time over an independent country. 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 you not only to help alleviate the current crisis but also to 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 by the United States. As you know better than anyone, they have been suffering from blackouts for years.
The real reason they lack electricity, fuel, and food is that those who control their country have embezzled 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 Cuban government's budget.
Today, while you suffer, these businessmen control 18 billion dollars in assets and dominate 70% of the Cuban economy.
They earn profits from hotels, construction, banks, stores, and even from the money their relatives send them from the United States. Everything goes through their hands.
They retain a percentage of those remittances, 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 free oil sent by Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro to keep the money for themselves.
But now that they no longer receive that free oil, 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 spend it on building more hotels for foreigners and sending their relatives to live in luxury in Madrid and even in the United States.
Today, Cuba is not controlled by any revolution. Cuba is controlled by GAESA: a state within the state that answers to no one and monopolizes the profits from its businesses to benefit a small elite.
And the only role the so-called government plays is to demand that you continue to make sacrifices 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 that 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 on permanent charity.
You want the opportunity to live in your own country as your relatives do in the United States and other countries around the world.
Today, from the 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.
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 path between the United States and a new Cuba.
A new Cuba where you, 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 those who govern the country and 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 one’s 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 your country."
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