Washington, March 17: US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have launched a sharp attack on the Cuban government following a nationwide blackout that has plunged much of the country into darkness. Both leaders described Cuba’s economic system as “completely failed” and emphasized the need for significant political change.
During a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ireland in the Oval Office, Trump stated that the US is closely monitoring the situation in Cuba and may take action soon. He remarked, “Cuba is in extremely poor condition right now. We will be doing something about it very soon.”
Rubio characterized the current state of Cuba as a result of a deep structural crisis, asserting that the Cuban economy is not functioning and the political system is incapable of making necessary improvements. He stated, “They need major changes.”
He further criticized the recent measures announced by the Cuban government as insufficient to resolve the crisis. Rubio accused the Cuban economy of relying on external aid, particularly from the Soviet Union and later Venezuela, for decades, but noted that this support has nearly vanished, exacerbating the situation.
Questioning the leadership in Cuba, Rubio indicated that the current rulers do not know how to solve the crisis, highlighting the need for new leadership. Regarding US policy, he clarified that the trade embargo on Cuba will remain in place until political changes occur.
The recent failure of Cuba’s power grid has illuminated the severity of the country’s energy and economic crisis. A senior official from the US State Department linked this situation to the failure of Cuba’s governance, stating that repeated blackouts indicate the government’s inability to provide basic services to its citizens.
The US believes that this crisis is not merely a technical or infrastructure issue but part of a broader economic and political crisis in Cuba.