WASHINGTON — While at the White House on Tuesday and in the Oval Office, as President Donald Trump hosted Taoiseach of Ireland Micheál Martin, Secretary of State Marco Rubio talked to reporters about Cuba.
Rubio said the U.S. embargo is tied to political change on the island, where the communist state-owned model without subsidies is dysfunctional.
“They have to get new people in charge,” Rubio said.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has blamed the crisis on Trump’s oil blockade.
“Cuba has an economy that doesn’t work in a political and governmental system that can’t fix it,” Rubio said. “So they have to change dramatically.”
Díaz-Canel has signaled a few concessions, including the freeing of 51 prisoners for good behavior.
“What they announced yesterday is not dramatic enough,” Rubio said. “It’s not going to fix it, so they’ve got some big decisions to make over there.”
On Monday, with Vice President JD Vance standing behind him, Trump talked about Cuba.
“Whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it,” Trump said. “They’re a very weakened nation right now.”
More on Cuba
- Magnitude 5.8 earthquake strikes near Cuba; no tsunami threat reported
- Islandwide blackout hits Cuba as it struggles with deepening energy crisis
- Protest in central Cuba at local communist headquarters ends in 5 arrests
Interactive graphic for history buffs
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