Diego Guelar, a former Argentine ambassador, delivered a scathing assessment of Cuba on Tuesday, labeling the island nation as "a monument to failure." He dismissed the notion of any military intervention by the United States, during an interview with Argentina's Canal 26, amid President Donald Trump's historic trip to China.
Guelar, who has served as ambassador not only in the United States twice but also in Brazil, the European Union, and China, was forthright about Cuba's situation: "Cuba is a monument to failure, not a global threat today, lacking influence anywhere. Everyone knows it's a tragedy for the Cuban people, but it certainly does not justify military action now."
His remarks come against the backdrop of heightened rhetoric from Washington towards Havana. On May 1, Trump privately declared in West Palm Beach that the U.S. would "take control of Cuba almost immediately" following the resolution of the Iran conflict, referencing the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier "100 yards off the coast" of Cuba.
However, on May 7, Brazilian President Lula da Silva disclosed that Trump privately assured him there were no plans to invade Cuba.
Trump's Foreign Policy Under Scrutiny
Guelar also expressed bewilderment at Trump's suggestion to make Venezuela the 51st state of the United States, a statement made on May 11. "I truly don't understand these things. I'd like a psychiatrist to explain them to me because I can't grasp them from a geopolitical perspective," the former diplomat stated.
The analyst contextualized his comments on Cuba within a broader critique of Trump's foreign policy. He indicated that Trump was arriving "severely weakened" at the summit with Xi Jinping, facing a disapproval rating between 65% and 68% according to major surveys, having alienated traditional allies.
"No one supports unilateralism, and the president must understand that his significant allies—Europe, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Australia—are not China or Russia, and he's at odds with all of them," Guelar declared.
Cuba's Dire Situation
Regarding Iran, Guelar recalled Trump's 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal negotiated by Obama between 2013 and 2015, allowing Tehran to resume uranium enrichment and, more recently, to charge for the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
He also questioned the Pentagon's handling of the conflict: "I have no doubt that today the Pentagon disagrees with the management, not the war, but the management of the war."
Meanwhile, Cuba is enduring its most severe crisis in decades, with power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day, a generation deficit exceeding 1,900 MW, and a 23% GDP decline since 2019, a situation classified by the UN as a humanitarian emergency.
The former ambassador concluded with a call to the U.S. president: "Trump needs to reflect and reclaim that leadership role that is rightfully his. There's no one else who can lead the free world other than the United States and President Trump."
Insights on Cuba's Economic and Political Crisis
Why did Diego Guelar describe Cuba as a "monument to failure"?
Diego Guelar described Cuba as a "monument to failure" due to its lack of global influence and the ongoing hardships faced by its citizens, which he believes do not justify military intervention.
What are the current challenges Cuba is facing?
Cuba is grappling with severe economic challenges, including power outages, a significant deficit in energy generation, and a substantial GDP decline. The UN has described this situation as a humanitarian emergency.
How did Trump's foreign policy actions influence Guelar's remarks?
Guelar's remarks were influenced by Trump's foreign policy decisions, which have alienated traditional allies and prompted criticism of unilateral actions, as seen in Trump's handling of international relations, including with Iran and Cuba.