The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated this Wednesday from Manila, Philippines, that the Cuban regime "fears economic prosperity because they know that with greater well-being and more economic freedoms, they would lose control over the population," according to statements shared by the State Department on their social media.
Rubio was participating in the ASEAN ministerial meetings when he responded to a question about whether Washington's goal remains to instigate a regime change in Cuba through economic collapse or a military option.
The Secretary of State dismissed both premises and set the objective in broader terms: “The goal is to achieve a Cuba where the Cuban people can live with prosperity, security, and a better life,” he remarked, adding that Cubans demonstrate this capability every time they leave the island and thrive anywhere in the world.
Rubio identified two structural issues that, in his opinion, explain the Cuban crisis.
The first issue is the economic model: “Their economic system is not functioning. It is a model that does not exist anywhere else in the world. It is completely outdated and simply does not work. That is why people have to leave the country.”
The second is the loss of subsidized Venezuelan oil, which was cut off following Nicolás Maduro's capture on January 3rd. Rubio also revealed that Havana did not use that crude for its power grid: "They took about 60% of the free oil they received from Venezuela and resold it to obtain cash."
His diagnosis of those who lead the Island was striking: "The biggest problem in Cuba is that its regime is a disaster, its economic model doesn't work, and those in charge of the country don't know what they're doing. The only thing that interests them is staying in power."
In parallel to those criticisms, Rubio announced that he has already begun the shipment of over 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid to Cuba, which will be distributed exclusively by non-governmental entities within the Island.
The first humanitarian flight left Miami on Tuesday, organized by Catholic Relief Services in coordination with the State Department and Caritas Cuba, carrying food and hygiene kits for up to 700 families.
The official also emphasized the migratory aspect of the crisis: since 2021, Cuba has lost between 10% and 15% of its population due to the government's poor management, a figure that aligns with data from the Cuban National Statistics Office, which records a decline in population from 11.3 million in 2020 to less than 9.5 million by early 2026.
He also recalled that Cuba is just 90 miles from the U.S. coast and that the regime has spent "30, 40, or 50 years destabilizing the region."
This position of sustained pressure is not new.
In May, Rubio already called Cuba a failed state and warned that negotiations with the regime are not progressing as long as those in power do not show a willingness to change.
"We want Cuba to have a better future, and we are willing to do what it takes to help make that future possible. But those in power today must decide that they want to move in that direction. Unfortunately, at this moment, they do not want to do so," Rubio concluded.
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