The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, issued a new warning on Monday to those in charge of Cuba, asserting that they are mistaken if they believe they can wait for the end of Donald Trump's administration without implementing political and economic changes on the island.
Rubio made the statements during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, after the host directly asked him if Cuba was "about to fall."
The truth is that Cuba has already fallen. It does not have a functional economy and is governed by people who continue to preach about a revolution that has been dead for 20 years, Rubio responded. In the same statement, he described Cuba as "a failed state in every sense of the word".
The head of U.S. diplomacy stated that, although Cuban authorities retain the ability to exercise control and repression, in his view the country lacks a functional government and economy. He also attributed much of the economic problems to corruption and the military's and the Communist Party's control over profitable sectors.
Rubio also stated that Washington hopes Cuba "chooses a different path" and raised the possibility that individuals within the power structures may acknowledge the reality of the situation they are facing.
The official noted that Trump's preference is to resolve the situation through diplomatic means and to reach an agreement that leads Cuba towards a “positive irreversible change”, accompanied by economic and political freedoms.
"You cannot have economic freedom in Cuba without first having political freedom. Both must exist, at least simultaneously. This will require a transitional period," he stated.
It was then that he directed his warning to those who, he said, continue chanting revolutionary slogans and believe they can wait until the current U.S. administration is over.
“Unfortunately, too many of the people who remain there chanting revolutionary slogans still believe that they can wait for this administration to end without making changes or doing anything. They are mistaken and will learn the hard way if they do not change,” said Rubio.
The statements continue a line of pressure that the Secretary of State has maintained over the past few days. On September 23, he stated that the Cuban authorities have "an opportunity to change course" and argued that any sustainable transformation will require political and economic freedoms.
That same day, he warned that “no one is going to invest in Cuba under its current government model”, pointing out the lack of legal guarantees and stability for potential investors.
Rubio's warning comes after Trump spoke on Saturday about the possibility of military action in Cuba. The president stated that he preferred to reach an agreement and did not believe it was necessary to resort to military means, although he characterized the situation on the island as a serious economic failure.
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