Rubio Denies Sanctions Against Cuba: "The Only Change is the Loss of Venezuelan Oil"

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected claims that Washington has imposed new sanctions against the Cuban regime, dismissing official accusations that blame the United States for worsening the island's crisis.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Rubio stated that the narrative promoted by the Cuban government does not align with the facts.

"We haven't taken any punitive actions against the Cuban regime. They claim otherwise, but it's simply not true," Rubio asserted.

Economic Impact of Losing Venezuelan Oil

Rubio explained that the significant change affecting the Cuban economy recently is not due to Washington's decisions, but rather the cessation of energy subsidies that Havana had received for years from Venezuela.

"The only change is that they are no longer getting free Venezuelan oil," he remarked.

Exposing Cuba's Economic Fragility

According to Rubio, this loss has unveiled the inherent weaknesses of Cuba's economic model, which heavily relied on external support to maintain its operations.

The Secretary of State's comments directly challenge the official narrative of the Cuban regime, which consistently blames the U.S. embargo as the main cause of the economic crisis, shortages, and power outages impacting the population.

Internal Factors and External Support Withdrawal

In contrast, Rubio argues that the current situation stems from internal issues and the disappearance of external funding sources rather than new U.S. pressure tactics.

His remarks come at a time when the island is grappling with one of the most severe economic crises in decades, characterized by scarcity, inflation, and a continuous decline in basic services.