Marco Rubio Says US Ready to Help Cuba Only If Leaders Make Major Changes

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Diplomatic Stance and Conditions for US Assistance

According to statements reported by CiberCuba and San Antonio Express-News, Rubio maintained that the administration of President Donald Trump is open to measures that could initiate a democratic process in Cuba. The Secretary of State emphasized that any future cooperation depends entirely on the willingness of authorities in Havana to embrace political and economic freedom. “Cuba has a unique opportunity to encaminarse hacia un futuro mejor, y estamos dispuestos a colaborar si están abiertos a ello”, Rubio said, according to CiberCuba. He added that the path forward requires abandoning past failures, noting that transforming a system shaped by decades of mismanagement cannot happen overnight.

Evaluating Leadership and Potential Interlocutors in Havana

Rubio expressed skepticism regarding whether the current leadership will seize the moment, noting that officials speaking publicly for the Cuban government remain resistant to change. He stated that while things will not improve without substantive structural shifts, he harbors hope rather than confidence that leaders will act.

At the same time, the Secretary of State drew a distinction between different factions within the existing political apparatus. He noted that while Washington rules out engagement with certain individuals whose hands are stained with blood, there are other figures inside the system who recognize the failure of the current model and with whom the United States could potentially work.

CiberCuba reported that Rubio has previously led backchannel discussions with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Raúl Castro, though Cuban officials have maintained that formal negotiations with Washington remain stalled.

Broader Context at the United Nations General Assembly

The remarks on Cuba coincided with active diplomatic engagements by US officials in New York, which also included high-profile discussions regarding Iran. CiberCuba noted that Rubio addressed reporters following meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and separate talks between US special envoys and an Iranian delegation.

Regarding Cuba, President Donald Trump delivered an address to the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2026, affirming his administration’s pursuit of fundamental change on the island. Trump later joked during a meeting with regional leaders that he might leave Rubio behind in Cuba to sort out diplomatic arrangements, though Rubio made it clear during his press briefing that Washington strongly prefers a negotiated political solution over any military action.

When questioned regarding potential US business investments in Cuba—such as bids for Sherritt International’s mining assets after the Canadian firm faced US sanctions—Rubio pointed out that American corporations and the Cuban diaspora could eventually play constructive roles, though he acknowledged that strict federal embargo restrictions remain in place.