United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Cuba\u2019s\nIndependence Day on Wednesday (20 May) by delivering a Spanish-language\nvideo message addressed directly to the island\u2019s people. In his message,\nRubio accused the communist leadership of being the main cause of the\nextraordinary suffering currently endured by Cubans. The move was\nhistoric, as it marked the first time Rubio had spoken directly to the\nCuban population in his capacity as Secretary of State, and formed part\nof a layered pressure campaign against Havana by the Trump\nadministration.<\/p>\n
In his address, Rubio focused sharp criticism on the Cuban military\nbusiness conglomerate known as GAESA. The giant company, founded by the\nCastro family, is estimated to hold assets of around US$18 billion and\ncontrols about 70% of the Cuban economy, spanning hospitality,\nconstruction, banking, and retail stores. \u201cThe real reason you do not\nhave electricity, fuel, or food is that those who control your country\nloot billions of dollars, but none of it is used to help the people,\u201d he\nsaid. He contrasted the lives of the wealthy elites running GAESA with\nthe squalor endured by ordinary Cubans, describing revolutionary\ncommunism in Cuba as a cover for kleptocracy. \u201cCuba is not controlled by\nany revolution. Cuba is controlled by GAESA.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to diplomatic pressure, the US Department of Justice is\nscheduled to disclose charges against de facto Cuban leader Ra\u00fal Castro\nrelated to alleged orders to shoot down two Brothers to the Rescue\nrescue aircraft based in Miami in 1996. This legal move signals that\nAmerican negotiators do not see meaningful progress in talks with Cuban\nleaders toward a peaceful transition to democracy. Despite contacts\nbetween State Department officials and the CIA, including Castro\u2019s\ngrandson, Raulito Castro, US demands remain firm: the release of\npolitical prisoners, free elections, and the return of assets seized\nsince the 1959 revolution.<\/p>\n
At present, Cuba\u2019s economy is in the worst state in its history. In\nsome regions, electricity is available for only about two hours a day.\nAmid shortages of food and fuel, US officials have revealed that the\nCuban government has found funds to purchase at least 300 attack drones\nfrom Russia and China. For its part, the Cuban government continues to\nblame the US embargo and new sanctions by the Trump administration for\nthe crisis. State media described US actions as violations of\ninternational law and an assault on Cuba\u2019s economic sovereignty.<\/p>\n
May 20 marks the date of Cuba\u2019s birth as a republic in 1902 following\nthe Spanish-American War. However, the holiday has not been celebrated\non the island since it was abolished by Fidel Castro\u2019s government after\nthe 1959 revolution. Rubio closed his message with a vision of a New\nCuba, in which citizens have the right to own a business and to vote in\nelections without fear. \u201cIf having your own business and the right to\nvote are possible around Cuba (the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic,\nJamaica), why is it not possible for you in Cuba?\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
The Department of Justice is expected to announce criminal charges\nagainst Ra\u00fal Castro in relation to the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue\nincident. Cuba is reported to have acquired 300 military drones from\nIran and Russia. The US warns of potential strikes against Florida amid\nHavana\u2019s energy crisis. Tensions between Cuba and the US are rising.\nPresident Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel warned of potentially fatal consequences of\na US military strike in the wake of the island\u2019s energy crisis. US\nPresident Donald Trump has described Cuba as a failed state and\nsignalled military aggression following Iran. A White House official\nstated Washington believes a deal with Cuba remains possible, but also\ndescribed the country as a \u2018failed state\u2019. The move to indict Ra\u00fal\nCastro is seen as potentially triggering similar operations elsewhere,\nsuch as the arrest of Nicol\u00e1s Maduro in Venezuela. The United States\nplans to indict former Cuban President Ra\u00fal Castro over the 1996\nincident, against a backdrop of fuel blockades and regime-change\nefforts.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/marco-rubio-accuses-cuban-leadership-of-causing-suffering-among-its-people-1779543044", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }