The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was questioned this Wednesday in New York about the possibility of eventual military action or an extraction operation in Cuba and responded that, in the face of a threat to U.S. national security, the president has the authority and responsibility to address it.
The statements were made during a press conference in New York, in the context of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, and were disseminated by the U.S. Department of State.
The question from a journalist came after Rubio presented his vision for the future of Cuba and emphasized the need for political and economic changes on the island.
The reporter specifically inquired about the possibility of changing the regime through some type of military action or extraction and mentioned the existing charges against a former Cuban leader, referring to Raúl Castro.
Rubio avoided confining his response specifically to Cuba and made it clear that he was speaking in general terms.
"Mira, first of all, the United States —and this is a general response, not specifically about Cuba— if there is a threat to the national security of the United States, the president has both the power and the obligation to confront it," he stated.
The Secretary of State did not announce a military action against Cuba nor confirmed that Washington is preparing such an operation.
His response established, on the other hand, the general criterion of the Administration regarding presidential powers when it perceives a threat to national security.
Before commenting on a possible military action, Rubio stated that “the Cuban Revolution has failed” and assured that the island's authorities still have the opportunity to undertake profound changes.
"They have an opportunity to start placing their country on an irreversible path towards progress and a better future. And that involves both political freedom and economic freedom, without a doubt," he noted.
Rubio added that Washington will remain involved in the Cuban issue and assured that the United States is willing to support measures that could initiate a transformation process.
"We are open to measures that, moving forward, initiate that process of change," he stated, though he warned that a transition of that magnitude would not be immediate.
"Over 60 years of mismanagement, corruption, and incompetence cannot be reversed in six months," he stated.
However, he considered that Cuba has a "golden opportunity" to set itself on a path towards a different future.
During the same appearance, Rubio also addressed the investment possibilities on the island and maintained that "no one will invest in Cuba under its current model of government", questioning the lack of guarantees and legal security for the private sector.
In another part of his statements, Rubio also maintained that there are members of the Cuban government structure with whom the United States would be unwilling to work, asserting that some have "blood on their hands", according to a video of the appearance shared on social media.
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