The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, published a video message directed at the Cuban people on Wednesday, in which he defended the building of "a new Cuba" with free elections, economic freedoms, and the right of citizens to choose and replace their leaders.
In his message for Cuba's Independence Day, Rubio stated that the administration of Donald Trump is willing to open “a new chapter” in relations between the two countries, but clarified that any rapprochement will be “with the Cuban people and not with GAESA”.
A new Cuba where they have the real opportunity to choose who governs the country and vote to replace them if they do not do their job well, Rubio stated, using Spanish as a means to connect with the concerns and aspirations of the Cuban people.
The Secretary of State described a country where Cubans can open private businesses, establish independent media, and criticize the government without fear of reprisals.
A new Cuba where you, and not just the Communist Party, can own a television station or a newspaper, he stated.
Rubio directly blamed GAESA, the business conglomerate of the Armed Forces founded by Raúl Castro, for controlling the Cuban economy while the population faces blackouts, shortages, and a deterioration of basic services.
“Today, Cuba is not controlled by any revolution. Cuba is controlled by GAESA: a state within the state that answers to no one,” he stated.
According to Rubio, the military conglomerate controls 70% of the national economy and manages assets valued at approximately 18 billion dollars.
The official stated that the lack of electricity and fuel on the island is not due to the U.S. embargo, but rather to decades of corruption and diversion of resources by the ruling elite.
The real reason they have no electricity, fuel, or food is that those in control of their country have plundered billions of dollars, he said.
Rubio also announced that the Trump administration is offering $100 million in food and medicine for the Cuban people, with the condition that the aid be distributed by the Catholic Church or independent charitable organizations and not by GAESA.
During the speech, he compared the situation in Cuba with that of other Caribbean countries and with Florida.
"If having a business and the right to vote is possible around Cuba, why can't it be possible within Cuba?" he asked.
The message coincided with the formal charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against Raúl Castro for the downing of the planes belonging to Hermanos al Rescate in 1996, an incident in which four people died.
According to Axios, the tightening of measures reflects the lack of progress in the negotiations led by Washington for a democratic transition on the island.
Rubio closed his message with a warning directed at the Cuban ruling elite: “Today, the only thing standing in the way of a better future is 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 facing unimaginable difficulties.
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 to build a better future.
The reason they are forced to survive for up to 22 hours a day without electricity is not due to a U.S. oil blockade. 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 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 is owned and operated by the Armed Forces. It generates revenue three times greater than the Cuban government's budget.
Today, while you suffer, these entrepreneurs control 18 billion dollars in assets and dominate 70% of the Cuban economy.
They profit from hotels, construction, banks, stores, and even from the money their relatives send them from the United States. Everything passes 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 in the world do, they depended 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 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 to send 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 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 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 just like your relatives do in the United States and in other countries around the world.
Today, from media to entertainment, from business to politics, from music to sports, Cubans have reached the top of virtually every industry in every country—except one: Cuba.
Today in Cuba, only those close to the GAESA elite or who are part of it can engage in 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 are not doing 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 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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