On the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021 protests, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an official statement on Saturday from the State Department, warning that Washington will utilize "every tool at its disposal" to push the Cuban regime toward political and economic reforms. He also demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners on the island.
Rubio recalled that five years ago, thousands of Cubans took to the streets in over 70 locations to demand freedom and dignity, only to be met with massive repression: peaceful protesters were beaten, and mass arrests were carried out.
"Five years ago, thousands of Cubans took to the streets to demand a better future for themselves and their families, seeking change after decades of repression and economic incompetence by the communist regime. True to form, the regime responded with brutality, beating peaceful protesters in the streets and arresting thousands of ordinary Cubans," the Secretary of State wrote.
Half a decade after those protests, hundreds of Cubans remain imprisoned for having requested basic rights. According to data from Prisoners Defenders as of July 9, 2026, Cuba has reached a new historic record of political prisoners: 1,306 inmates, including 40 minors, with 338 serving sentences directly linked to the 11J demonstrations.
Rubio accused the regime's elites of rejecting any meaningful reform to maintain their absolute control over the population and condemned Cuba for hosting military, intelligence, and terrorist operations from hostile powers less than 100 miles from U.S. shores.
"Regrettably, the regime and its corrupt elites continue to reject any effort for meaningful reform, instead prioritizing the perpetuation of their total control over the Cuban people and their dogmatic adherence to their morally bankrupt Marxist ideology," he remarked.
The Secretary of State also highlighted that the Trump administration has offered the Cuban regime humanitarian aid, reconstruction assistance, and the promise of a new bilateral relationship, all contingent on Havana accepting genuine reforms.
The statement comes weeks after Washington announced a new round of sanctions against entities linked to GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls between 40% and 70% of the Cuban economy, following the characterization of the 176 economic measures approved by the Cuban National Assembly as "superficial smoke signals."
The 11J anniversary is marked during a time of extreme crisis in Cuba: on July 10, the electrical system recorded a record deficit of 2,341 MW, with blackouts lasting up to 87 consecutive hours in some provinces, and the economy is in free fall, worsened by the disruption of Venezuelan oil supplies since January 2026.
This same Saturday, rapper Maykel "Osorbo" Castillo Pérez, co-author of "Patria y Vida" and sentenced to nine years in prison, was transferred to the maximum-security prison of Guanajay, which activists interpreted as a deliberate gesture by the regime on the commemorative date.
Rubio concluded his statement with a direct warning to Cuban leaders: "Cuba's leaders must simply choose to commit to real reforms, peace, and prosperity before it's too late."
Key Insights on U.S. Policy Towards Cuba
What actions has the U.S. pledged to take against the Cuban regime?
The U.S. has vowed to use "every tool at its disposal" to press the Cuban regime towards political and economic reforms, including sanctions and diplomatic pressures.
How many political prisoners are currently in Cuba?
As of July 9, 2026, there are 1,306 political prisoners in Cuba, including 40 minors, with 338 linked directly to the 11J protests.
What has the Trump administration offered Cuba?
The Trump administration has offered humanitarian aid, reconstruction assistance, and the promise of a new bilateral relationship, contingent on Cuba accepting real reforms.