For months, the Cuban exile community has been grappling with a pressing question: Is Washington genuinely dedicated to fostering change in Cuba, or are the statements from the Trump administration merely empty rhetoric? This debate resurfaced on Friday, with Cuban-American analyst Sayde Chaling-Chong expressing his "cautious optimism" during a discussion.
“Cuba is just one of many global issues that need resolution. They are working tirelessly because orders have been given from the top, and they are executing them. However, there are other priorities,” Chaling-Chong acknowledged, noting that Europe and Spain also have their own pressing issues.
Despite these challenges, Chaling-Chong remains hopeful that change might occur before the year's end. “I still hold out hope that something could happen in 2026 because the year isn't over yet,” he remarked.
This hope is tempered by a frustration that Chaling-Chong does not hide: “We all wish to wake up one morning to the news that a drone struck where Raúl lives and eliminated him. We'd love that. But, if it’s going to happen, it will happen when they see fit.”
Diplomatic Tensions and UN Resolutions
The debate coincides with a period of heightened diplomatic tension. The UN resolution against the Cuban embargo, passed on October 28, marked the worst outcome for the regime since 1992: 130 votes in favor, compared to 165 in 2025 and 187 in 2024, with 17 votes against and 25 abstentions.
Adding to this diplomatic setback was the expulsion of Cuban diplomat Richard Tur de la Concepción, declared persona non grata by Marco Rubio after an altercation with a U.S. official at the UN on October 27.
Controversial Collaborations with the CIA
Another controversial aspect of the debate is Rubio's invitation for Cubans to collaborate "discreetly" with the CIA, which prompted the agency to issue a Spanish-language operational guide. Manuel Milanés questioned the practical utility of this initiative with a historically ironic comment: “Growing up in Cuba, we were all accused of being CIA and everyone was CIA. Now it turns out no one is CIA, and they're inviting people to actually be CIA. Does that serve any purpose?”
The regime's foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez, dismissed Rubio's call to work with the CIA as "childish" on Friday. When Rubio was asked why he advocated for CIA contact instead of peaceful avenues, he tersely replied, “I can’t answer that.”
Promises from the Trump Administration
Analyst Frank Rodríguez, asserting his right as an American citizen to demand consistency from President Trump, recalled the president’s own words: “I want to help these people, those in Cuba and those who had to leave so they could return. I didn’t feed him those lines.”
In August 2026, Rubio declared that Cuba is “certainly a priority” for the Trump administration, hoping the island would progress towards an “irreversible” future before the end of the term. The gap between such declarations and tangible outcomes fuels the skepticism pervasive in the Cuban exile community.
Cuban-American Relations: Questions and Answers
Why is the Cuban exile community skeptical about U.S. commitment?
The skepticism arises from the perceived gap between the U.S. administration's statements and the lack of concrete actions to bring about change in Cuba.
What recent diplomatic events have affected U.S.-Cuba relations?
Recent events include the UN resolution against the Cuban embargo and the expulsion of Cuban diplomat Richard Tur de la Concepción from the U.S.
What controversy surrounds Marco Rubio's CIA collaboration invitation?
Rubio's invitation for Cubans to work with the CIA has been criticized for its practicality and historical irony, given past accusations of Cubans being linked to the CIA.