Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear on Monday that there will be no economic opening toward Cuba, stating emphatically, "We don't need anything from Cuba. It's Cuba that needs us."
Rubio did not mince words as he addressed the core issue: "Their economic system is utterly dysfunctional. It's not a real system. It can't change unless the government changes," he asserted in a video shared on the Department of State's official account, which contained a segment from an interview with Al Jazeera.
This statement was Rubio's response to the announcement made by the Cuban regime on March 16. During an interview with NBC News, Vice Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga revealed that Cuban-Americans are now permitted to invest on the island.
In a pointed rebuttal, Rubio questioned, "A week ago they said Cuban-Americans can now invest on the island. Invest in what? In a country with arbitrary laws and no real justice system? Nobody is going to invest in that."
The Secretary of State also connected Cuba's economic woes to the lack of political freedoms: "If I want to engage in a country's economic life and don't like the regulations that government imposes, which harm me, I need to be able to complain. Yet, in that nation, complaining lands you in jail."
Rubio further asserted that the power outages plaguing Cuba are not related to Washington's policies but are a direct result of the Cuban regime's incompetence and neglect of its electrical infrastructure over decades.
"These blackouts have nothing to do with us. They were having blackouts last year. They occur because their electrical grid relies on equipment from the 1950s that they have neither maintained nor modernized due to incompetence. That's why they have blackouts," Rubio explained.
His stance is consistent. Last Friday, Rubio was equally adamant: "The government system in Cuba must change. Who would invest billions in a communist country run by incompetent communists?" He emphasized, "The only place where Cubans cannot succeed is in Cuba."
This viewpoint is echoed by the Cuban exile community in Miami. Cuban-American businessman Iván Herrera, CEO of Univista Insurance, called the regime's investment proposal "absurd and immoral," declaring that "not a single cent from American entrepreneurs will go to Cuba until Cubans are free."
The economic backdrop of these declarations is severe. The Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts a contraction of the Cuban GDP by 7.2% in 2026, which would amount to a 23% decline since 2019. The island endures power cuts lasting up to 20 or 25 hours a day, exacerbated since January by the halt of Venezuelan oil supplies following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
According to the 2026 Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom, Cuba ranks as the least free economy in the Americas and the second worst globally, only surpassed by North Korea, with a score of 25.2 out of 100.
Rubio also denied any ongoing negotiations with Havana last Friday, stating, "Any information about Cuba that hasn't come from me or the president is false."
Understanding the U.S. Stance on Cuba
Why does Marco Rubio oppose investments in Cuba?
Rubio opposes investments in Cuba because he believes the country's arbitrary laws and lack of a real justice system make it an unviable and unsafe place for investment.
What is the economic situation in Cuba according to the Economist Intelligence Unit?
The Economist Intelligence Unit predicts a 7.2% GDP contraction for Cuba in 2026, marking a 23% decline since 2019, highlighting the severe economic crisis the island faces.
How does the lack of political freedom in Cuba affect its economy?
The absence of political freedom in Cuba restricts individuals from voicing concerns about detrimental governmental regulations, which Rubio argues is a significant barrier to economic participation and development.