The Cuban government is facing a stark choice: open up its economy or watch the country descend into crisis. That's the stark message from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who says the communist regime's unwillingness to reform is the root cause of the island's economic collapse.
A Regime on the Brink
Rubio, a longtime critic of the Cuban government, did not mince words in his assessment. "They would much rather be in charge of a dying country than allow it to prosper," he told Bloomberg News, describing a regime that prioritizes control over the wellbeing of its citizens.
The dire situation in Cuba is no secret. The country is facing its worst energy crisis in decades, with frequent blackouts and fuel shortages that have crippled the economy. Cuba's deputy foreign minister acknowledged the hardship, saying the U.S. embargo has "already harmed the country."
Regime Change or Reform?
But Rubio argues the crisis is of the regime's own making, the result of a failed economic model and an unwillingness to open up. He suggests the only path forward is for Cuba to embrace greater economic freedoms - not just political reforms.
The Trump administration has ratcheted up pressure on Cuba, imposing new sanctions and cutting off vital oil supplies. Rubio said the goal is to force the regime's hand, to compel it to choose between maintaining its grip on power or allowing the Cuban people to prosper.
The bigger picture here is that the U.S. is now willing to go to extraordinary lengths to bring about regime change in Cuba, whether through economic pressure or the threat of military intervention. For the communist government in Havana, the choice is increasingly stark: evolve or risk collapse.