US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, asserted that the United States has taken 'nothing punitive' against the Cuban government. He argued that the severe humanitarian situation on the island predated recent actions by the administration of US President Donald Trump in the Caribbean. Rubio placed blame for Cuba's current woes squarely on the government in Havana, describing its economic system as 'completely dysfunctional' and 'not a real system', and allegedly stating that change is impossible without altering the leadership.
Rubio pointed to US pressure on Venezuela to halt oil shipments to Cuba following the military abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January. He claimed that the only change for the Cuban government has been the loss of free Venezuelan oil and subsidies, but notably omitted reference to Trump's executive order in late January threatening sanctions for oil provision to Cuba, as well as the decades-long US trade embargo. Rubio pushed back on claims by Cuban officials that blackouts have accelerated due to the pressure campaign, attributing them instead to outdated 1950s-era grid equipment and the 'incompetence' of the authorities.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the island nation experienced three nationwide grid collapses in March, leaving over 10 million people without electricity after three consecutive months without diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, or liquefied petroleum gas. The UN released a $94.1 million plan to keep critical services running for Cuba's most vulnerable residents. UN coordinator in Cuba Francisco Pichon warned that if the current situation continues and fuel reserves are exhausted, there is a risk of rapid deterioration with potential loss of life.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has long opposed Cuba's communist government, currently led by President Miguel Diaz-Canel. His political career is defined by calls for regime change, with some observers suggesting he was likely a main architect of the Trump administration's military campaign against Venezuela, which has aligned closely with Havana. In the interview, Rubio also said the situation in Venezuela is 'moving along very well' since Maduro's abduction, and purportedly expressed confidence in a transition from 'stabilisation' to 'recovery' under interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who has implemented reforms sought by the US regime.
Source: www.aljazeera.com