The United States' approach to Cuba remains focused on supporting the Cuban people while applying pressure on the regime, with no plans for negotiations with Havana, a senior State Department official told Martí Noticias on Friday. The official described the Cuban government as a "collapsed regime led by elderly individuals whose sole aim is to maintain political control," and stated that it lacks any vision or strategy to advance the nation.
Regarding the sanctions imposed by Washington, the official defended them as tools specifically targeting the island's military and security apparatus. "If all sanctions were lifted tomorrow, the only outcome would be that the military would siphon off more money to stash in Swiss accounts. Nothing would change in Cuba," the official asserted.
He reiterated that American citizens are allowed to do business with private Cuban entrepreneurs, emphasizing that it is the regime itself, not the United States, that obstructs such commerce. The official dismissed the Cuban government's narrative blaming the economic crisis on the embargo as "worn-out rhetoric."
"The lack of cars isn't because they can't be bought. They can be purchased, but there's no money because their system doesn't produce. And when they secure a contract, they don't pay their debts," he criticized.
The official further argued, "Cuba's problem isn't its relationship with the United States, but rather the decisions made by its ruling elite. There's nothing to negotiate because even they don't know what they want to do."
Migration and International Relations
He also dismissed claims of ongoing migration agreement negotiations with Havana, particularly concerning deportations. "There's nothing to negotiate. Every country has the obligation to receive its citizens. It's their duty, period," he stated. Although he acknowledged that Havana accepts only certain deportees, the U.S. continues repatriation flights.
Reflecting on the current situation, he noted that in just two years, Cuba has lost over 13% of its population, mainly young people, in an unprecedented exodus. "People are fleeing not because of an American magnet, but because they want to escape the island to anywhere else," he remarked.
Concerns Over Foreign Intelligence
When asked about the presence of Russian and Chinese intelligence on Cuban soil, the official expressed concern but emphasized that it does not change the reality of a directionless regime that survives by stealing and hiding funds abroad.
On human rights, he highlighted that Cuba maintains one of the highest rates of political prisoners per capita globally. "We will continue to press for their release, but not turn their freedom into a business, as Maduro did," he stated.
Finally, he assured that the Trump administration maintains a clear stance toward Cuba. "President Trump is clear and consistent: he says what he does and does what he says. There will be no funding for the regime. There will be support for the people seeking change," he concluded.
Understanding U.S. Policy Towards Cuba
Why does the U.S. maintain sanctions against Cuba?
The U.S. maintains sanctions against Cuba to specifically target the island's military and security sectors, aiming to pressure the regime while supporting the Cuban people.
What is the United States' stance on doing business with Cuba?
American citizens are allowed to conduct business with private entrepreneurs in Cuba, but the regime itself often obstructs such commerce, not the U.S.
How does the U.S. view the Cuban government's narrative on the embargo?
The U.S. views the Cuban government's narrative blaming the embargo for its economic woes as outdated and inaccurate, pointing to systemic failures within the Cuban economy itself.