Rubio Demands Cuba Leadership Change As US Offers $100 Million Aid

The United States has renewed a controversial offer of $100 million in assistance to Cuba amid escalating diplomatic tensions, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the island’s leadership must change for any meaningful recovery, according to remarks made on Wednesday during an interview aboard Air Force One.

Rubio, a Cuban-American and long-time critic of Havana’s communist government, argued that Cuba’s economic collapse is rooted in systemic failures rather than external pressure alone. He described the country’s economy as “broken” and “nonfunctional,” and said he does not believe its trajectory can improve under the current leadership. He added that Washington would “give them a chance” through proposed assistance, but expressed skepticism that cooperation would materialize.

The remarks came as Cuba continues to face a severe energy crisis that has deepened its broader economic turmoil. Authorities in Havana reported widespread power outages affecting large portions of the country, with some estimates suggesting that up to 65 percent of the nation experienced blackouts earlier in the week. Cuban officials have attributed the crisis primarily to long-standing U.S. sanctions, while President Miguel Díaz-Canel has described the situation as a consequence of what he called a “genocidal energy blockade.”

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In response, small but visible protests have emerged in parts of the capital, Havana, as residents expressed frustration over repeated electricity cuts. Demonstrations were reported in several neighborhoods, including San Miguel del Padrón and Playa, where people protested by banging pots and pans and chanting demands for restored power. The unrest comes amid growing public dissatisfaction in the island nation of roughly 9.6 million people, where economic hardship has intensified in recent months.

The U.S. State Department formally renewed its $100 million assistance proposal on Wednesday, stating that the aid would include humanitarian support and funding aimed at improving “fast and free” internet access. Officials said the package is intended to provide direct relief to the Cuban people, while also increasing access to information in a tightly controlled media environment. The department added that the decision now rests with Cuba’s government, which it said must choose between accepting assistance or rejecting critical aid.

Tensions between Washington and Havana have further escalated alongside broader regional developments, including disruptions to Cuba’s fuel supply chain. U.S. officials have pointed to reduced energy imports and shifting geopolitical alignments in the region as contributing factors to the crisis. Meanwhile, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has rejected the U.S. offer, calling it misleading and accusing Washington of attempting to undermine Cuba’s sovereignty.

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