The Secretary of State Marco Rubio published a message in Spanish directed to the Cuban people this Wednesday, on Cuba's Independence Day, in which he blames the military-business conglomerate GAESA for the hardships the island is experiencing and offers, on behalf of President Donald Trump, a "new relationship" with Cuba.
It is the first time that Rubio speaks directly in Spanish to the Cuban population in his role as Secretary of State, in a speech that is part of the Trump administration's "layered" pressure campaign against Havana.
"The real reason they have no electricity, fuel, or food is that those who control their country have plundered billions of dollars, yet nothing has been used to help the people," Rubio stated in the video, shared from his official account.
The core of the discourse is a direct attack on GAESA (Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A.), founded 30 years ago by Raúl Castro, which according to Rubio possesses 18 billion dollars in assets and controls 70% of the Cuban economy through hotels, construction, banks, stores, and remittances.
«Cuba is not controlled by any revolution. Cuba is controlled by GAESA», stated the Secretary of State, adding that «the only role that the so-called government plays is to demand that you continue to make sacrifices and to suppress anyone who dares to complain».
Rubio contrasted that accumulated wealth with the misery of the Cuban people, who in some areas endure power outages of up to 22 hours a day, and pointed out that the regime took advantage of Venezuela's free oil to enrich itself rather than investing in electrical infrastructure.
In Trump's name, the Secretary of State offered 100 million dollars in food and medicine for the Cubans, with one explicit condition: that they be distributed "by the Catholic Church or other trusted charitable groups, not stolen by GAESA to be sold in their stores."
"President Trump offers a new relationship between the United States and Cuba. But it must be directly with you, the Cuban people, not with GAESA," Rubio emphasized.
The speech also outlines the vision of a "new Cuba" where ordinary citizens—not just the military elite—can own businesses, access independent media, and choose their leaders through free elections.
“This is not impossible. All of this exists in the Bahamas, in the Dominican Republic, in Jamaica, and even just 90 miles away in Florida. If owning your own business and having the right to vote is possible around Cuba, why isn't it possible for you within Cuba?” asked Rubio.
The video is produced in the context of a sustained escalation of pressure. On May 1, Trump signed Executive Order 14404 imposing new sanctions on Cuba— a date chosen at the suggestion of Rubio because it coincides with International Workers' Day.
On May 7, Rubio announced the first designations under that order: direct sanctions against GAESA, its CEO Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, and Moa Nickel S.A.
That same day, the U.S. set June 5 as the deadline for foreign companies linked to GAESA to sever ties or face secondary sanctions.
Meanwhile, this Wednesday, the Department of Justice filed formal charges against Raúl Castro for ordering the downing of two aircraft belonging to Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, in which four people died.
According to sources quoted by Axios, this judicial step indicates that negotiations between Washington and Havana for a peaceful transition are not progressing significantly.
U.S. intelligence sources also report that Cuba has acquired at least 300 attack drones from Russia and China, and that it hosts military and intelligence personnel from Iran, Russia, and China on its territory.
Rubio closed his message with a direct warning to the regime: "In the United States, we are ready to open a new chapter in the relationship between our people and our countries. And currently, the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country".
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 experiencing 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, offer 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 by the United States. As you know better than anyone, they have been experiencing blackouts for years.
The real reason they lack electricity, fuel, and food is that those who control their country have plundered 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. Its revenue is three times higher than the budget of the Cuban government.
Today, while you all 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 that 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, like other countries in 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 are buying fuel for their generators and vehicles, while the people are being asked to keep 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 that the so-called government plays is to demand that you continue to make sacrifices and to repress 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 off permanent charity.
You want the opportunity to live in your own country as your relatives do in the United States and in other countries around the world.
Today, from media to entertainment, from business to politics, and from music to sports, Cubans have reached the top of nearly every industry in all countries, except for one: Cuba.
Today, in Cuba, only those who are close to the GAESA elite or are part of it can run 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 going to prison 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 them out 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 their country."
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