Republican Congressman Carlos A. Giménez has declared that Cuba is approaching a pivotal "Berlin Wall moment" and emphasized that the United States must act decisively to hasten the end of the regime.
“This is not the time to blink. It's time to finish the job,” Giménez asserted in an opinion piece featured on Fox News.
He depicted the collapse of the Cuban dictatorship as imminent.
The "brutal Cuban regime is crumbling in real time," with its economy in "freefall," a populace "starving," and a government "running out of money, fuel, and legitimacy," he elaborated.
Drawing from his personal experience, the congressman reinforced his argument: "I lived under its yoke. I fled from it."
Giménez argued that the current situation demands "clarity and determination" from the United States, warning that the country is "closer than ever to ending tyranny in Havana," provided that past "failed policies" are not repeated.
Internal Crisis and the Regime's Accountability
The only member of the U.S. Congress born in Cuba, Giménez painted a dire picture of the island's situation, citing "severe shortages of food, medicine, electricity, and fuel."
He noted that hospitals are devoid of basic supplies, blackouts can last for days, and families are forced to ration meals to survive.
"Make no mistake: this crisis is solely the responsibility of the regime," he stated, attributing the dire situation to socialism, corruption, and decades of mismanagement by a dictatorship that prioritizes its survival over human dignity.
For years, the Cuban government managed to sustain itself by "exporting repression and importing vital resources," including Venezuelan oil, remittances, tourism revenue, and businesses that, according to Giménez, funneled funds directly to the military and intelligence services.
These resources, he added, are "finally being cut off."
In this context, he credited the regime's weakening to President Donald Trump's leadership and the "vigorous" enforcement of U.S. law spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Giménez highlighted that oil shipments are dwindling, international partners are withdrawing, and Havana is running out of options.
China's Influence and National Security Risks
He cautioned that, when weakened, dictatorships do not reform but instead resort to increased repression. He noted that the Cuban government is seeking new allies, identifying communist China as its "new patron."
According to Giménez, Beijing has expanded its strategic and intelligence presence on the island, just 90 miles from Florida, transforming Cuba into a base of operations aimed at the United States.
He asserted that the collapse of a dictatorship aligned with Washington's "greatest geopolitical adversary" is not only a humanitarian tragedy but also a national security threat.
Call for Maximum Pressure
Representing Florida's 26th district, the congressman insisted that the United States should not offer the dictatorship any "lifeline."
First, he called for the full and uncompromising application of existing laws, without loopholes or exceptions, while criticizing humanitarian exceptions that end up benefiting regime-controlled entities rather than ordinary Cubans.
He recalled that attempts at dialogue during Barack Obama's administration, in his view, "failed spectacularly."
Giménez also advocated for cutting any financial flows that support the dictatorship, including remittances and travel mechanisms, which he claimed are dominated by military business conglomerates, empowering oppressors rather than the populace.
He argued that sanctions do not harm the Cuban people more than the regime itself and cited South Africa as an example of how sustained pressure can weaken dictatorships and accelerate the path to freedom.
Quoting former President Ronald Reagan, Giménez reminded that communism "is not a permanent condition" and asserted that the fall of the Berlin Wall demonstrated that freedom is more powerful than fear.
"Cuba is nearing its Berlin Wall moment," he emphasized.
The congressman, who grew up in Miami's Cuban exile community, described it as deeply grateful to the United States and convinced that freedom is worth fighting for.
He noted that these Cubans largely supported Trump because they believe strength, not appeasement, puts America first.
Ultimately, Giménez sent a direct message to the Cuban people: "The United States stands with you, not with your jailers," assuring that the goal is not chaos or suffering, but freedom.
He concluded with an appeal to the White House: "President Trump, the time for a free Cuba is now."
Understanding the Cuban Crisis and U.S. Policy
What does Carlos Giménez believe about Cuba's current situation?
Carlos Giménez believes that Cuba is nearing a critical point similar to the Berlin Wall's fall, where the regime's collapse is imminent, and urges the U.S. to act decisively to help end the dictatorship.
How does Giménez view the role of the United States in Cuba's future?
Giménez sees the U.S. as playing a critical role in Cuba's future by applying maximum pressure on the regime, cutting financial support, and avoiding past failed policies to ensure the end of tyranny in Havana.
What does Giménez attribute the current weakening of the Cuban regime to?
He attributes the regime's weakening to the leadership of President Donald Trump and the strict enforcement of U.S. laws, which have cut off vital resources that previously sustained the Cuban government.