Washington, March 18: U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have sharply criticized 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 changes.
During a meeting in the Oval Office with the Prime Minister of Ireland, Trump stated that the U.S. is closely monitoring the situation in Cuba and may take action soon. He remarked, “Cuba is in extremely bad shape right now. We will be doing something about it very soon.”
Rubio attributed the current crisis in Cuba to a deep structural failure, asserting that the economy is not functioning and the political system is incapable of implementing necessary reforms. He stressed that “they need major changes.”
Furthermore, Rubio criticized the recent measures announced by the Cuban government as insufficient to resolve the crisis. He accused the Cuban economy of having relied on external support, particularly from the Soviet Union and later Venezuela, for decades, but with that support now nearly exhausted, conditions have worsened.
He also questioned the current leadership in Cuba, stating that they do not know how to resolve the crisis, indicating a need for new leadership.
Regarding U.S. policy, Rubio clarified that the trade embargo on Cuba will remain in place until political changes occur.
The blackout has highlighted the severity of the energy and Economic Crisis in Cuba, with a senior U.S. State Department official linking the situation to the failure of the Cuban governance system. The official noted that repeated blackouts indicate the government’s inability to provide basic services to its citizens.
The U.S. believes that this crisis is not merely a technical or infrastructure issue, but part of a broader economic and political crisis in Cuba.