This Tuesday, from the White House press room podium, Marco Rubio clarified why he posed in front of a prominent map of Cuba during his meeting with the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) in Doral, Florida. The press conference was laden with messages regarding the future of Cuba's regime.
Filling in for Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who is on maternity leave after the birth of her second child on April 17, the Secretary of State was questioned by a journalist about a photo that surfaced earlier. The image showed Rubio with General Francis L. Donovan, SOUTHCOM's commander, with a large map of Cuba in the background.
Rubio's explanation was straightforward: "Cuba is under the Southern Command, you know it's the closest part. Our ambassadors were all over the Western Hemisphere. I met with the general who just took command of SOUTHCOM, and there was a map of Cuba behind us. I thought it would be fitting to take a picture in front of it because it's the closest to the United States within SOUTHCOM."
Regarding the meeting's content, Rubio remained intentionally vague: "I'm not going to tell you what I discussed with SOUTHCOM, but it had something to do with Cuba."
The photograph was captured during the 2026 Chiefs of Mission Conference, held from May 5 to 7 at SOUTHCOM's headquarters in Doral. Rubio delivered the opening address in his dual role as Secretary of State and interim National Security Advisor—a concentration of power only previously held by Henry Kissinger.
Stern Words for the Cuban Regime
The press briefing extended beyond the photo explanation. Rubio delivered a scathing critique of the Cuban government, labeling it a "failed state" run by "incompetent communists": "The only thing worse than a communist is an incompetent communist. And that's what they are. They don't know how to fix it; they genuinely don't."
Rubio also debunked the regime's narrative of a petroleum blockade used to justify the energy crisis: "Cuba used to receive free oil from Venezuela. They got quite a bit of free oil. They turned around and sold about 60% of that oil for money. It didn't even benefit the people."
Positioning the Cuban situation as a national security concern, Rubio stated, "We have, just 90 miles off our coast, a failed state that's also a haven for some of our adversaries. It's an unacceptable situation, and we will address it, but not today."
Political Reactions and Ongoing Tensions
Cuban-American Congressman Carlos Giménez showed enthusiasm for the photo on social media platform X, stating, "The regime in Cuba will be relegated to the ash heap of history!"
Rubio's appearance comes amid heightened pressure on Havana. Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed over 240 sanctions against the regime and intercepted at least seven tankers, cutting Cuban energy imports by 80% to 90%, leading to blackouts lasting up to 25 hours a day in over 55% of the territory. On May 1, Trump signed a new executive order expanding sanctions on the energy, defense, mining, and finance sectors.
This Tuesday, Trump reiterated his threat to deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier off the coast of Cuba once operations in Iran are concluded.
Understanding the U.S. Stance on Cuba
Why did Marco Rubio pose in front of a map of Cuba at SOUTHCOM?
Rubio posed in front of the map because Cuba is part of the Southern Command's jurisdiction, being the closest area to the United States within SOUTHCOM. It was symbolic of the ongoing discussions related to Cuba.
What did Rubio say about the Cuban regime?
Rubio criticized the Cuban government as a "failed state" run by "incompetent communists," underscoring its inability to address and resolve their internal issues effectively.
How has the Trump administration increased pressure on Cuba?
Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed over 240 sanctions, intercepted tankers, and significantly reduced Cuba's energy imports, leading to severe power outages across the nation.