The Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, defended the political system of the island and stated that "there are no billionaires in the Cuban parliament."
In an exclusive interview granted to NBC News, she pointed out that in the National Assembly, "there is a majority of women, there are representatives from all sectors of society, and there are even students directly and freely selected by voters without the mediation of political parties."
The interview, lasting 22 minutes, took place on Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, one day after President Donald Trump described Cuba as an "absolutely failed state" and predicted that "freedom will come to Cuba," statements that prompted the walkout of the Cuban delegation in protest.
Rodríguez presented the National Assembly of the People's Power as a model of direct participation, contrasting it with the U.S. system, which he described as a "plutocracy" where "money and corporations rule."
"There are no special interests; seats are not bought with advertising money," he stated.
What the chancellor overlooked is that there is no multiparty system in Cuba: the Communist Party is the only legal political force, and the Constitution defines it as the "superior leading force" of the State. Candidates do not compete against each other proposed by parties; instead, they are selected by official nomination commissions.
In response to the question of whether the regime would consider reforming its one-party system, Rodríguez was unequivocal: "We feel very comfortable with the constitutional order that, unlike the United States, has been chosen and confirmed by the Cuban people in several referendums with universal participation."
The interview, conducted by the chief foreign affairs correspondent of NBC News, Andrea Mitchell, also covered the humanitarian crisis on the island. The chancellor attributed the blackouts and shortages to the energy embargo imposed in January 2026, which hindered the entry of fuel, and to the extraterritorial secondary sanctions imposed in May of the same year.
Rodríguez described the situation as a "true act of collective punishment" and even used the term "genocide." He stated that infant mortality has doubled—from four to 9.9 deaths per 1,000 live births—and that the life expectancy of Cuban children with cancer has dropped from 85% to 65%, numbers he attributed to the lack of medicines and medical equipment, without providing independent sources to support these claims.
Regarding military tensions, the chancellor rejected the idea that Cuba could be the target of an action similar to that which led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. "The U.S. military aggression against Venezuela cost the lives of 32 Cuban bodyguards who were protecting President Maduro," he stated, labeling that operation as an "illegal act, completely in violation of international law."
Regarding the diplomatic conversations between Havana and Washington, Rodríguez acknowledged that there have been "some episodes of conversation," but he blamed Washington for the lack of progress due to its "misunderstanding and restrictive attitude."
He refused to reveal who the interlocutors are and declined to answer the question of whether Raúl Castro's grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, is involved in those negotiations.
When the journalist conveyed the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio —who stated that there are figures in the regime with whom the U.S. "can never work because their hands are stained with blood"— Rodríguez responded with a succinct phrase: "He lies, he lies again."
The context in which the interview takes place is one of maximum tension: this very Friday, CBS News revealed that the U.S. Army Reserve is assessing the availability of military units for Southern Command within a timeframe of 90 to 120 days, in a planning that officials linked to Cuba, although no confirmed deployment orders have been issued.
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