In a candid admission on CBS News' 60 Minutes, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío acknowledged that the Cuban government bears "significant responsibility" for the ongoing crisis on the island. This marks one of the most straightforward admissions by a high-ranking Cuban official regarding the internal failures of the regime.
Journalist Matt Gutman directly questioned Fernández de Cossío about the government's accountability in the nation's decline. He responded, "Cuba's unique position is that, aside from any responsibility the government holds, there is a very powerful external factor that influences the reality of the people. However, our government holds substantial responsibility because decisions could have been made that might have been better."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined an interview with 60 Minutes, but a spokesperson commented on his behalf: "The failed Cuban regime continues to blame the United States and others for its own incompetence and corruption. They hide billions in foreign bank accounts instead of investing in electricity, infrastructure, and the daily needs of their people."
When asked about resolving the deadlock with Washington, Fernández de Cossío was forthright: "With a change in the United States' attitude."
As one of Cuba's chief negotiators with Washington, the deputy foreign minister maintained that the U.S. embargo is a significant factor, yet he couldn't ignore questions regarding the regime's internal decisions: crumbling electric infrastructure, insufficient wages, and hospitals on the brink of collapse.
The report, aired this past Sunday, highlighted the harsh realities faced by doctors at William Soler Pediatric Hospital in Havana.
Dr. Alejandro Chong, head of the Intensive Care Unit, earns more from a food stall than from his critical role caring for children in severe conditions. He explained to CBS that the seconds between a blackout and the generator activating can be fatal: "Those few seconds might seem insignificant to someone outside the medical field, but they are precious when it involves a patient under general anesthesia or on a ventilator."
When generators also fail, doctors have had to complete surgeries by the light of their cell phones and manually ventilate patients dependent on electrical equipment.
Lórien Rodríguez, a Pediatric Surgery resident, also works as a radio host to make ends meet. "There's less staff, fewer resources, and that makes everything much harder," she stated.
During CBS's visit, a young girl had been waiting 68 days for a part for an extracorporeal circulation device, a process that usually takes just two days.
A two-month-old baby, abandoned and severely undernourished at less than 2.3 kilograms, was treated at the same hospital; he passed away the previous Thursday due to respiratory complications.
Dr. Chong recounted how they are forced to improvise due to shortages of specialized infant formulas: "We have to make do with formulas made from malanga and chicken."
The report also noted that a carton of eggs can cost more than a month's salary for most Cubans, and that medications are being sold on the black market in Havana due to a lack of drugs in pharmacies.
Since early January 2026, only one oil tanker has arrived in Cuba, according to Cuban officials, crippling the electrical grid.
The island lost its main crude supplier following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, exacerbating an energy crisis that has worsened since 2024.
Understanding the Cuban Crisis: Key Questions Answered
What did the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister admit on CBS?
Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío admitted that the Cuban government holds significant responsibility for the crisis on the island, marking one of the most direct acknowledgments of internal failures by a high-ranking official.
How did U.S. officials respond to the Cuban crisis?
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined an interview, but a spokesperson stated that the Cuban regime continues to blame others for its incompetence and corruption, emphasizing that the government hides billions in foreign accounts instead of investing in the country’s needs.
What challenges are Cuban hospitals facing?
Cuban hospitals, like the William Soler Pediatric Hospital, face severe shortages, including lack of staff, resources, and essential medical supplies. Power outages pose significant risks during surgeries, sometimes requiring doctors to use makeshift solutions.