Carlos Saladrigas: The Cuban Regime Rejected Obama's Path to Change

Cuban-American entrepreneur Carlos Saladrigas, who leads the Cuba Study Group, has given a stark assessment of the failed thaw between Obama and Cuba. According to Saladrigas, the process faltered because the Cuban regime deliberately chose to let it fail, reversing their own economic reforms even before Air Force One had left Havana's airport.

"It didn't work because the Cuban government simply refused to let it work. Obama opened the door to change, offered a sophisticated solution to Cuban leaders and the Cuban people, a brilliant opportunity that respected our sovereignty, and the government turned it down," Saladrigas stated in an interview with CiberCuba.

The Regime's Reversal

Saladrigas detailed the timeline of what he calls a betrayal: "As soon as Obama departed from the airport, the government started rolling back measures they had put in place even before his visit, implementing counterproductive policies that worsened the economic stagnation, especially when COVID hit." This historic visit by Obama to Havana occurred on March 20, 2016, marking the first visit by a sitting U.S. president in 88 years.

For Saladrigas, the accountability is clear: "The blame lies solely with the Cuban leaders who made poor decisions or lacked the courage to make the necessary ones." These detrimental choices, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have led to the current downward spiral the island faces.

Biden's Inaction and Current Negotiations

Regarding President Biden's decision not to resume the thaw during his administration, Saladrigas is equally blunt: "Why didn't Biden continue with the thaw? In my view, it's political cowardice."

On the ongoing negotiations between the Trump administration and the Cuban regime, Saladrigas takes a pragmatic stance: "It's simply pragmatism." While he wishes for Cubans to have greater control over their destiny, he acknowledges that U.S. pressure has pushed the regime to a crossroads where they must make choices they could have voluntarily made years ago. The Cuban regime, however, denies the existence of any formal negotiations with Washington.

A Vision for Economic Transition

Since 2001, Saladrigas has been advocating for Cuba's economic opening, training over 15,000 entrepreneurs on the island through his Cuba Emprende project. He envisions a transition plan in three phases: an initial stabilization period of two to four years costing between $6 billion and $10 billion, followed by a five-year infrastructure reconstruction, and finally, a strategic vision phase transforming Cuba into a Caribbean financial hub akin to Singapore or Israel.

However, Saladrigas warns that the greatest risk of a disorderly transition is the infiltration of Latin American drug cartels: "If this change happens chaotically, the risk of narcocrime infiltrating Cuba is very high." The Trump administration's plan to change Cuba without ousting the Castros has also stirred controversy among exiles.

Cuban Economic Crisis Context

These discussions occur against the backdrop of Cuba's most severe economic crisis in decades. The GDP plummeted by 5% in 2025, with the per capita income at a mere $1,082—the lowest in Latin America, 90% below the regional average. Power outages affect 64% of the nation, and the informal exchange rate for the dollar has soared to 580 Cuban pesos. On March 7, President Trump announced publicly at the Summit of the Americas Shield in Miami that Cuba "wants to negotiate" with Marco Rubio and himself.