U.S. Labels Johana Tablada and Marrero Cruz as "Puppets of the Cuban Dictatorship"

The strained relations between Washington and Havana have escalated further following a statement from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. The statement labeled diplomat Johana Tablada and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz as "puppets of the Cuban dictatorship."

In a post on the social platform X, the U.S. State Department sharply criticized recent comments made by these Cuban officials. "Cuban regime officials now openly admit what we have always known: there is no 'blockade,'" the message stated. The post elaborated that "a puppet of the dictatorship" acknowledged that Cuba "can purchase all the chicken it wants from the United States," while another boasted about turning the Island into a global logistics hub.

The message concluded with a stark assertion: "The truth is undeniable: it is the regime that hinders the country. It is time for genuine economic freedoms for the Cuban people, not for companies controlled by security services."

The Controversy Unfolds

Washington's criticisms first targeted Johana Tablada, who serves as the deputy director-general for the United States at Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has recently been appointed as ambassador to Mexico. During an interview on the state-run podcast Alma Plus, Tablada admitted that despite U.S. sanctions, "Cuba can buy all the chicken it wants from the United States."

The diplomat tried to downplay domestic criticisms of the embargo, noting that on the streets, people often say there is no blockade because of food imports from the U.S. market. Her remarks bolster the State Department's argument that the true barrier to Cuba's economic progress is its own political system. Tablada responded sarcastically to the U.S. State Department's post on X, questioning the nonexistence of the blockade. "Really? No blockade. Will the U.S. government finally listen to the international community about lifting it...?"

Marrero's Logistics Ambitions for Cuba

The second target of Washington's rebuke was Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, who recently participated via teleconference in the Eurasian Economic Intergovernmental Council. During his remarks, Marrero emphasized Cuba's "steadfast decision" to become a regional logistics hub for the Eurasian Economic Union's (EEU) goods, aiming to distribute products throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Marrero asserted that preliminary studies support mutual benefits in terms of cost and operational efficiency, alongside the potential to boost industrial capacities in Cuba to transform raw materials into higher-value goods. He even announced the establishment of a bilateral logistics committee and the upcoming fourth joint commission with the EEU in Havana, which aims to approve a cooperation plan for 2025-2030.

According to the U.S. Department of State, these statements are indicative of the regime's official rhetoric, which, instead of addressing the severe internal crisis, relies on external alliances and projects of economic dependency.

Behind the Economic Tensions

This controversy unfolds as U.S. agricultural and food exports to Cuba continue to show sustained growth. The latest report from the U.S.-Cuba Economic and Trade Council indicated that in June 2025, sales reached $38.4 million, reflecting a 10% increase compared to June 2024.

Frozen chicken and its variants remain the most sought-after product by the island, with purchases exceeding $21 million, confirming that Washington continues to be one of Cuba's main food suppliers. While the Cuban regime insists that the U.S. embargo is the primary obstacle to its development, the U.S. administration argues that the island's military and state-controlled economic model is what truly limits real opportunities for its people.