Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Cuba’s Independence Day on Wednesday with a sharply critical message blaming the island nation’s communist leadership for the country’s economic collapse and saying those in power are “the only thing standing in the way” of a better future for Cubans.
In a video message released by the State Department on the anniversary of Cuba’s formal independence from Spain in 1902, Rubio accused the nation’s military-linked elite of enriching themselves while ordinary Cubans face rolling blackouts, food shortages, and economic hardship.
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“Currently, the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country,” Rubio said, addressing Cubans directly in Spanish. He argued that the country’s ongoing crisis was not caused by U.S. sanctions or an “oil blockade” but by corruption and mismanagement among Cuba’s ruling class.
Rubio, the first Cuban American to serve as secretary of state, specifically targeted a group known as GAESA, a sprawling military-run business conglomerate founded under former President Raul Castro.
Rubio said the company, which controls much of Cuba’s economy, has failed to invest in the country’s deteriorating infrastructure while profiting from hotels, remittances, and banking.
The remarks come as Cuba continues to grapple with a worsening energy crisis that has left many residents facing daily blackouts lasting up to 20 hours in some regions. The island has struggled with fuel shortages, aging electrical infrastructure, and declining oil imports from allies such as Venezuela.
Rubio’s message outlined what he described as President Donald Trump’s offer of a “new relationship” with Cuba, conditioned on bypassing the Cuban government and directing aid straight to the Cuban people. He said the United States is offering $100 million in food and medicine that would be distributed through the Catholic Church and other charitable organizations rather than Cuban state institutions.
The comments signal a continuation of the Trump administration’s tougher posture toward Havana, reversing the diplomatic thaw pursued during the Obama administration. Since returning to office, Trump has expanded sanctions and taken steps aimed at limiting financial flows tied to Cuban state entities, particularly those connected to the military.
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Rubio framed the message around democratic and economic freedoms, saying a “new Cuba’ should allow citizens to own businesses, operate independent media, and freely choose their leaders.
Cuba’s government has long rejected U.S. criticism, blaming American sanctions for deepening shortages and economic instability while accusing Washington of interfering in the island nation’s internal affairs.
