Secretary of State Marco Rubio is positioning the Trump administration for what could be the most aggressive push to end communist rule in Cuba since the 1959 revolution, as the island nation faces its worst economic crisis in decades.
Perfect Storm for Regime Change
Cuba finds itself more vulnerable than ever, cut off from essential Venezuelan oil supplies that previously delivered 27,000 to 35,000 barrels per day. The Trump administration has imposed a near-complete embargo on foreign oil shipments, threatening tariffs on any country caught sending fuel to the communist island. Mexico, another key oil supplier, has already buckled under American pressure, leaving Cuba scrambling for basic energy needs.
The crisis has sparked rolling blackouts across Cuba and forced airlines to cancel flights as aviation fuel runs out. A major fire at a Havana oil refinery this week added to the mounting pressure on the communist government. Cuban-American lawmakers are capitalizing on the moment, with four congressmen calling for the indictment of former president Raúl Castro over the 1996 downing of an American supply plane.
Economic Collapse Accelerates
Cuba’s economic indicators paint a picture of systemic failure. Inflation has soared past 15 percent while the peso continues its steep decline. The average monthly wage of 6,506 pesos equals just $14.46 at current exchange rates. Basic staples like rice and beans cost 650 and 300 pesos respectively per kilogram, making survival increasingly difficult for ordinary Cubans who have endured 64 years of communist rule.
Rubio’s Long-Awaited Moment
Rubio, whose parents fled Cuba, has made ending communist rule on the island a cornerstone of his political career. Fresh from helping orchestrate the removal of Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolas Maduro, Rubio now has direct access to President Trump and the backing of America’s 2.5 million Cuban-Americans. The community sees this economic meltdown as the best opportunity in decades to finally topple the Castro regime and restore freedom to the island nation just 100 miles from Florida.