The U.S. State Department declared on Wednesday that the dire economic situation in Cuba is not the fault of the White House. According to the department, in 1958, Cuba boasted one of the highest GDPs per capita in the hemisphere. However, just a few years after Fidel Castro took power, the island became heavily reliant on Soviet subsidies.
In a post from the official Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs account, the U.S. government launched a counter-narrative to the official stance from Havana, using concise posts on X to dismantle the arguments about the embargo. "Throughout history, communism has never succeeded, yet the Cuban regime persists with its failed system."
Before 1959, Cuba was a wealthy, modern nation with a thriving middle class. The communist system destroyed its economic potential, turning it into a dependent economy, concluded the State Department in its message.
This statement comes as Havana prepares for the annual United Nations General Assembly vote regarding the U.S. embargo. On the previous day, additional accusations were made, stating that "the collapse of the Cuban economy results from decades of corruption, mismanagement, and repression by an illegitimate regime that chooses to invest in luxury hotels while restricting private enterprise, leaving its citizens hungry."
U.S.-Cuba Trade Relations
The State Department also confirmed that Cuba freely imports food, medicines, and humanitarian products from the United States, which falls within the allowed exceptions. "In the past year alone, U.S. exports to Cuba increased by 16%, reaching $585 million in 2024," the department noted.
These figures contradict the Cuban regime's narrative, which recently relaunched a campaign against the embargo, attributing its economic woes solely to these sanctions. "Cuba purchases chicken, wheat, corn, and pharmaceuticals from American companies. The embargo does not prevent these transactions. The real blockade is the one imposed by the regime on its own people," stated a State Department spokesperson.
The Broader Context
With the return of the Trump administration to the White House in January, U.S. policy toward the Cuban regime has become more stringent, aiming to reposition the embargo issue within a broader hemispheric security framework.
Beyond economic data, the message carries clear symbolism: the United States seeks to dismantle the narrative of the embargo as the sole cause of Cuba's troubles. Amidst decreasing international diplomatic support, Havana faces the UN vote with greater uncertainty than ever. For the first time, the victim narrative might fall short.
Cuba's Economic Challenges and U.S. Relations
How did Cuba's economy change after Fidel Castro came to power?
After Fidel Castro assumed power, Cuba's economy shifted from being one of the wealthiest in the hemisphere to becoming reliant on Soviet subsidies, with its economic potential severely hampered by communist policies.
What products does Cuba import from the United States?
Cuba imports various products from the United States, including chicken, wheat, corn, and pharmaceuticals. These transactions fall under exceptions to the embargo.
What is the broader significance of the U.S. message about Cuba?
The U.S. seeks to dismantle the narrative that the embargo is the sole reason for Cuba's economic issues, highlighting internal regime failures and emphasizing a hemispheric security perspective.