Ben Rhodes, who served as national security advisor to President Barack Obama and played a key role in the 2014 diplomatic thaw with Cuba, recently stated on comedian Hasan Minhaj's podcast that the U.S. embargo is the primary roadblock preventing Cuba from adopting an economic model similar to Vietnam's. He argued that the United States bears significant responsibility for the suffering of the Cuban populace.
The remarks, recorded on August 4 and aired on August 26 during the "HMDK / Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know" show, were quickly picked up by Cuba's state-controlled media, such as Cubadebate and Escambray, using them to bolster the regime's narrative.
Rhodes claimed that the Cuban Communist Party would "open its economy tomorrow if it could" and mentioned that when he was negotiating with officials in Havana, they were "studying Vietnam" and "wanted to emulate Vietnam's model."
The Blame on Washington
While discussing why a similar transition hasn't occurred, Rhodes pointed fingers at Washington: "I would bet, by the way, they couldn't maintain political control because Vietnam isn't 90 miles from Florida. But it's our fault."
Rhodes further connected power outages on the island to the deaths of hospitalized patients: "I've personally spoken with Cuban-Americans who had relatives die because they were on a respirator that stopped working. If the power goes out, the neonatal ICU shuts down."
He concluded with a strong statement: "While we pass by Maduro in prison, we, the taxpayers, are funding a policy that is killing Cuban children and the elderly because some people in Florida want to reclaim that island."
Counterarguments to Rhodes' Claims
Despite Rhodes' assertions, he overlooks well-documented structural factors that challenge his main argument.
Cuba's own Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, dismissed the regime's narrative of eagerly seeking reform: when presenting a package of 176 economic measures in June, Marrero clarified that the Cuban model "is not China, not Vietnam," directly opposing the image of a regime willing to open up if only the U.S. allowed it.
The comparison with Vietnam is also flawed: Vietnam initiated its market opening — known as Đổi Mới — in 1986, about four decades ago. Its state participation in GDP is around 31%, a stark contrast to Cuba's 91% in 2019.
Internal and External Factors of Cuba's Energy Crisis
The energy crisis that Rhodes largely attributes to the embargo also has internal causes that are well documented: outdated thermoelectric plants due to decades of underinvestment, poor management, and the collapse of subsidized Venezuelan oil supplies following Nicolás Maduro's arrest in January 2026.
The Cuban government itself admitted that in the five months leading up to June this year, only one oil tanker reached the island, and the electrical grid faced deficits of 2,400 MW in August, with blackouts lasting up to 25 hours a day in some provinces.
This is not the first time Rhodes has publicly defended this stance: back in April, he claimed that Cubans are "suffering more than ever in their history," linking the deterioration to the Trump administration's energy sanctions.
What his statements fail to mention is that it is 67 years of communist dictatorship — not the embargo — that have prevented the Cuban people from accessing a functional economy. The regime has consistently rejected market reforms that it allegedly desires.
Understanding the Impact of U.S. Policies on Cuba
What did Ben Rhodes claim about the U.S. embargo on Cuba?
Ben Rhodes asserted that the U.S. embargo is the main obstacle preventing Cuba from adopting an economic model similar to that of Vietnam, and he holds the U.S. responsible for much of the Cuban people's suffering.
How did the Cuban government respond to Rhodes' claims?
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero contradicted Rhodes' claims by stating that the Cuban model is neither China nor Vietnam, indicating a lack of intent to open the economy as Rhodes suggested.
What are some internal reasons for Cuba's energy crisis?
Cuba's energy crisis is partly due to outdated thermoelectric plants, decades of underinvestment, poor management, and the collapse of Venezuelan oil supplies.