Former Spanish politician Rocío Monasterio, who has Cuban roots, took to her X profile this past Thursday to emphasize the urgent need to dismantle the Havana regime. She described it as a "moral duty to end the suffering of the Cuban people and to demonstrate to the world the failure of communism."
Her statement comes as a direct response to comments made by U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who warned on Fox News last Tuesday that the Trump administration would not allow American adversaries to operate with impunity in Cuba, a mere 90 miles from U.S. shores.
Monasterio expanded the discussion beyond security concerns to include moral and political dimensions: "It is also a national security issue for many countries. Cuban intelligence has infiltrated intelligence agencies and governments, undermining democracy and freedom for millions of individuals."
Rubio had accused Havana's regime of "rolling out the red carpet for U.S. adversaries to operate within Cuban territory against our national interests with complete impunity," adding, "We will not allow a foreign army or intelligence apparatus to operate with impunity just 90 miles off the U.S. coast. That's not going to happen under President Trump."
Rubio's assertions are backed by specific data. The Center for Strategic and International Studies has identified at least 12 Chinese signal intelligence facilities on Cuban soil, in locations like Bejucal, El Salao, Calabazar, and El Wajay, with confirmed expansions in 2024 and 2025. Meanwhile, Russia maintains its largest intelligence base outside its borders on the island.
The Pentagon considers Cuba one of the strongest intelligence adversaries in U.S. history, and the FBI warned in March 2026 that Cuba remains one of the most persistent and effective espionage threats against the United States.
Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar supported Rubio's stance with a firm statement: "There can be no economic change in Cuba without political change."
China, however, dismissed the Secretary of State's allegations, defending its cooperation with Havana as "legitimate and transparent."
Monasterio, whose father was born in Cienfuegos, Cuba, in 1929, has a profound personal connection to the Cuban cause: her family lost sugar estates on the island after the 1959 Revolution.
She was appointed "Ambassador of Cuban Exile in Spain" in 2023 and departed from active politics in October 2024 after being dismissed as the regional president of Vox by the national party leadership.
Rubio harshly summed up the regime's economic situation: "Things can improve in Cuba with serious economic reforms, but not with the current people in charge." The Cuban GDP has plummeted by 23% since 2019, with an additional 7.2% contraction projected for 2026 alone.
Understanding the Call to End Cuba's Regime
Why does Rocío Monasterio consider ending Cuba's regime a moral obligation?
Monasterio views the dismantling of Havana's regime as a moral responsibility because it would alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people and highlight the failures of communism globally.
What security concerns did Marco Rubio raise about Cuba?
Rubio expressed concerns about U.S. adversaries operating freely in Cuba, only 90 miles from U.S. shores, and warned against foreign intelligence or military operations in the region.
How has Cuba's economic situation changed since 2019?
Cuba's GDP has decreased by 23% since 2019, with a further reduction of 7.2% expected in 2026, highlighting the country's severe economic challenges.