Pompeo Offers 'New Relationship' to Cuban People, Blames Leadership for Hardships

In a significant move, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo directly addressed the Cuban people on the island's Independence Day, delivering a message in Spanish that squarely blames the communist leadership for the nation's "unthinkable difficulties." This marks the first time Pompeo has engaged the Cuban populace in his capacity as Secretary of State, aligning with the Trump administration's broader campaign of pressure against Havana.

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The lack of electricity, fuel, and food is due to those who control the country having looted billions of dollars that should have gone to the people.

Pompeo articulated a stark indictment of the Cuban government, pointing to the pervasive lack of electricity, fuel, and food as direct consequences of leaders allegedly "looting billions of dollars" that should have benefited the people. His remarks also touched upon the powerful GAESA business-military consortium, which reportedly controls a significant portion of the Cuban economy, from tourism to banking. He characterized the leadership not as revolutionaries, but as a "control regime" that imposes sacrifices on its citizens while suppressing dissent.

The U.S. has proposed a $100 million aid package, focused on food and medicine, but with a crucial condition: distribution must be handled by the Catholic Church or other non-governmental organizations, bypassing state mechanisms. This approach underscores Washington's deep distrust of the Cuban government's ability or willingness to ensure aid reaches those in need. Meanwhile, the Cuban government continues to attribute its economic woes to the long-standing U.S. embargo, recent sanctions, and the loss of subsidized oil from Venezuela.

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The U.S. is proposing a $100 million aid package in food and medicine, provided it is distributed through the Catholic Church or other organizations, so as not to fall under the control of state mechanisms.

From our perspective at Kathimerini, this direct U.S. outreach represents a notable escalation in the diplomatic and informational battle over Cuba's future. While Western media often focuses on the geopolitical implications, for Cubans, the daily struggles with shortages and the lack of basic freedoms are paramount. Pompeo's message, while framed as aid, also serves as a clear call for political change, emphasizing the U.S. vision of a "new Cuba" built on political participation, entrepreneurship, and freedom of expression. The U.S. is also reportedly considering further sanctions and pursuing alleged ties between Havana and regimes in Russia, China, and Iran, signaling a sustained and multifaceted pressure campaign.

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A 'new Cuba' should be based on the right to political participation, entrepreneurship, and freedom of expression.