In his inaugural interview on American television, aired this past Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel elaborated on why Cuba has not adopted the economic strategies of China and Vietnam, nations that integrate a single-party system with market economies.
Díaz-Canel contended that the key difference lies in the duration of the U.S. embargo. While China and Vietnam also faced American sanctions, those pressures lasted only about a decade, whereas Cuba has been subjected to the embargo for over 60 years.
"China and Vietnam are countries building socialism, much like Cuba," Díaz-Canel told journalist Kristen Welker. "Their blockades were shorter, approximately a decade. Once they emerged from these blockades, they had all the opportunities to develop their capabilities for constructing socialism."
The Cuban leader claimed to have thoroughly studied Chinese reforms as a benchmark for Cuba and mentioned visiting China and Vietnam during his last trip in September 2025.
According to Díaz-Canel, when these countries embarked on their economic takeoff, they were in a "less favorable" developmental situation compared to Cuba's current state.
"When you examine the periods during which China and Vietnam could advance, they started from a less favorable developmental position than where Cuba is right now," he asserted. "Lift the embargo, remove the blockade, and see what we can achieve."
The interview, recorded on April 9 in Havana and fully aired for 53 minutes on Sunday, also provided Díaz-Canel an opportunity to dismiss calls for the release of over 1,200 political prisoners, including the rapper Maykel Osorbo, who has been incarcerated since 2021 for penning a protest song that won two Latin Grammys. He labeled the narrative regarding political prisoners in Cuba as a "big lie" and "slander."
When questioned about whether he would step down to save Cuba, he responded indignantly: "Have you asked any other president in the world that question?" and stated that the "concept of revolutionaries who surrender and resign" is not part of his vocabulary.
Regarding negotiations with Washington, Díaz-Canel confirmed ongoing discussions but clarified that he has not spoken directly with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and does not know him personally. "Dialogue and agreements with the U.S. government are possible, but they are challenging," he maintained.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Challenges
Why hasn't Cuba followed the economic models of China and Vietnam?
According to Díaz-Canel, the primary reason is the prolonged U.S. embargo on Cuba, which has lasted over 60 years, unlike the shorter durations of sanctions faced by China and Vietnam.
How does Díaz-Canel view the narrative of political prisoners in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel categorizes the claims about political prisoners as a "big lie" and "slander," refusing to acknowledge the existence of such prisoners.