Cuban influencer Alex Otaola delivered a pointed message this Friday to U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging them to take decisive action against the Cuban regime without delay.
"It's now or never, Mr. Trump, we want action now," he insisted. Directly addressing the U.S. diplomatic leader, he added, "Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio, we want to be heard, we demand to be taken into account."
Otaola made it clear that he and his supporters oppose any negotiations with Havana.
"We do not want dialogues with the dictatorship, we do not want to give the regime's leaders an escape route. We want them to be held accountable for their crimes; we will not provide a safe passage to the oppressors of the Cuban people," he declared.
In his remarks, he also urged Washington to avoid announcing decisions without consulting the traditional Cuban exile community in Miami.
"You need to consider us and do so by listening to our requests, not by informing us of decisions already made. That is not taking us into account," he stated.
The influencer called on Trump and Rubio to mirror the U.S. stance on Iran's regime.
"There was no mercy for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, there should be none for Raúl Castro. There was no mercy for the leaders of Iranian repression, and there should be none for those who ordered combat against the Cuban people. Cuba's issue is not economic or humanitarian; it is political," he asserted.
Otaola voiced support for the Trump administration, yet issued a stern warning to the president and his secretary of state.
"We are thousands of Cubans who voted for this administration, and we will vote again in November because we trust that this administration genuinely seeks peace in the hemisphere. However, we will not accept any deal with the dictatorship."
Ongoing Contacts with Cuban Authorities
These statements come after Trump acknowledged that Rubio is "holding discussions with the regime" in Cuba "at a very high level," when asked about potential political changes on the island.
"Cuba is currently a failing nation," the president remarked, describing the situation as "very bad" and noting that the country faces a severe crisis: "They have no money, no oil, no food."
Last week, officials close to Rubio held a discreet meeting in Saint Kitts with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the influential grandson of Raúl Castro, on the sidelines of the CARICOM summit.
Reports cited by the Miami Herald suggest the talks are exploring the possibility of gradually easing sanctions in exchange for progressive economic reforms in Cuba.
Otaola's message builds public pressure from a segment of the exile community that demands a firmer stance from the Trump administration and opposes any negotiations that might ease or extend the current system's hold on power.
Key Questions on US-Cuba Relations
Why does Alex Otaola oppose dialogues with the Cuban regime?
Otaola believes that any dialogue with the Cuban regime would provide an escape route for the regime's leaders without holding them accountable for their crimes. He insists on accountability and opposes offering any form of safe passage to those he considers oppressors of the Cuban people.
What actions does Otaola urge the Trump administration to take against Cuba?
Otaola urges the Trump administration to act decisively and with the same lack of mercy shown toward Iranian leaders, advocating for a firm political stance that holds the Cuban regime accountable rather than considering economic or humanitarian issues.
What recent developments in US-Cuba relations have occurred?
Recent developments include high-level discussions reportedly involving Marco Rubio and Cuban regime representatives, exploring the possibility of easing sanctions in exchange for economic reforms. These talks have sparked controversy among Cuban exiles who oppose any negotiation with the regime.