Cuban Foreign Minister Criticizes Marco Rubio’s Agenda
Recently, Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, expressed strong disapproval of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, claiming he is pursuing a “personal and corrupt agenda” that goes against President Trump’s vision for peace in Latin America.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Rodriguez highlighted that Rubio, whose family comes from Cuba, is leading a “major pressure” campaign against the country. He pointed out, “The current Secretary of State wasn’t born in Cuba, he has never been to Cuba and has no idea about Cuba.” This, he argued, limits Rubio’s understanding of the situation.
Rodriguez criticized Rubio for what he sees as a deviation from true national interests, emphasizing, “There is the very personal and corrupt agenda he is doing, which appears to be sacrificing US national interests to advance this very radical approach.” The Trump administration’s policies, which have included aggressive measures against Cuba, prompted these remarks.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has enacted a number of harsh policies, including redesignating Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism just days after former President Biden lifted that label. New restrictions have also been placed on visitors coming from Cuba, alongside the revocation of protections for around 300,000 Cubans residing in the US. Moreover, the administration has imposed limits on new visas.
Despite these actions, Rodriguez—a prominent Cuban diplomat since 2009—stated he doesn’t directly blame Trump for them but instead holds the State Department responsible. He noted that while Trump presents himself as a “defender of peace,” Rubio fosters a more aggressive approach, describing threats to use force as commonplace. “This is nonsense,” Rodriguez remarked, asserting that both Trump and Rubio are aligned in promoting an “America first” agenda that aims to combat drug cartels and violence linked to illegal drugs.
The Oka has sought a response from the State Department regarding these assertions.
In previous statements, Rubio and other US officials have defended their tough stance on Cuba. “The United States continues to support the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cuban people,” he said in July, reinforcing that illegal and authoritarian regimes have no place in the hemisphere.
