Marco Rubio stated that Cuba will not be able to emerge from its crisis as long as the regime and the military conglomerate GAESA maintain control of the country.
The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated this Tuesday that Cuba will not be able to overcome its deep economic crisis while the current leaders of the regime remain in power and those responsible for the military conglomerate that dominates much of the island's economy.
His statements, made during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, constitute the most explicit position of President Donald Trump's administration regarding the necessary conditions to modify the pressure policy applied against Havana.
Rubio pointed out that the main obstacle to Cuba's recovery is not U.S. sanctions, but the power structure that has governed the country for decades. In particular, he targeted the Business Administration Group S.A. (GAESA), the business conglomerate controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces, which many analysts attribute a decisive influence over the most profitable sectors of the Cuban economy.
''The question is whether they can reform themselves given the people currently in charge, both of GAESA and the Government itself. And I believe the answer is that they cannot,'' declared the head of U.S. diplomacy. According to Rubio, the Cuban political and economic system lacks the necessary capacity to undertake deep reforms while it continues to be directed by the same actors who have overseen decades of economic stagnation.
Marco Rubio demanded a change of leadership in Cuba and stated that there will be no sustainable growth while communism remains in power.
The Secretary of State added that he does not consider a significant transformation possible without the emergence of new leadership or a different vision regarding the functioning of the country. ''I don't see them being able to reform themselves unless new people take charge or a new mentality is imposed,'' he stated.
During the hearing, Rubio also revealed that the Trump administration has held conversations with Cuban representatives and that Washington has conveyed its views on the measures that should be adopted for the island's economy to recover. Although he avoided detailing the content of those contacts, he confirmed that there is communication between both governments despite the deep political differences.
The statements come amid a particularly delicate situation for Cuba. Since early 2026, the island has been facing a severe energy crisis exacerbated by the reduction of oil supplies from its main partners. The situation intensified after the Trump administration approved new measures aimed at limiting Havana's access to external fuel sources.
Executive Order 14380, signed by Trump on January 29, established secondary tariffs for countries that export oil or derivatives to Cuba. The measure led to the suspension of shipments from Mexico and the interruption of Venezuelan supplies, deepening the island's energy problems.
President Donald Trump signed a decree that imposed secondary tariffs on those countries that supplied oil to the Cuban dictatorship.
As a result, Cuba faced one of the most difficult periods in recent years. Blackouts multiplied across the country, and several provinces recorded power cuts of more than 18 hours daily. The generation deficit reached historic levels, affecting both economic activity and the daily lives of millions of citizens.
The economic situation also continues to deteriorate. Various studies estimate that the Cuban gross domestic product has accumulated a decline of over 15% since 2020, while the outlook for 2026 points to a new contraction. The scarcity of food, medicines, and basic products remains one of the main concerns of the population.
In response to accusations from the Cuban Government, which blames the U.S. embargo for the crisis, Rubio defended that the structural problems of the island existed long before the latest measures adopted by Washington. He recalled that massive blackouts and citizen protests over the lack of basic services were already being recorded in 2024 and 2025.
The economic and social crisis, a result of the policies of the communist regime, has severely impacted the Cuban population.
According to the Secretary of State, the current situation reflects the exhaustion of an economic model incapable of generating sustainable growth and attracting sufficient investments to meet the needs of the population. In his opinion, the dependence on external subsidies and the concentration of economic power in the hands of the State have limited development possibilities for decades.
Rubio also reiterated Washington's accusations against Havana for its links with terrorist organizations and for hosting intelligence facilities linked to China and Russia. The Cuban regime rejects these accusations and claims they are part of a strategy to justify a hostile policy against the island.
From Havana, authorities maintain that any political or economic transformation must be decided exclusively by Cubans and have denounced that the United States seeks to provoke an internal collapse through economic pressure. Although the dictator Miguel Díaz-Canelexpressed months ago his willingness to dialogue with Washington, the positions of both parties remain deeply divergent.
The dictator of Cuba has shown a willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, but his actions have not demonstrated this.
