Top US diplomat dismisses report as fabricated
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly denied allegations that American officials pushed for the ousting of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canal, branding the claims as entirely false.
Rubio took to the social media platform X late at night to dismiss a report published by The New York Times, calling it fake news. He accused the newspaper of relying on information from "swindlers and fraudsters" who had presented themselves as credible insiders.
The publication had claimed on Monday that members of President Donald Trump's administration had requested Cuba remove its head of state, though it noted they stopped short of demanding a full overthrow of the island nation's communist government.
"Swindlers and fraudsters posing as informed sources were behind the media reports," Rubio stated in his response on X.
Notably, Rubio did not clarify whether he was disputing the report in its entirety or only certain portions of it. According to the newspaper's account, American officials regard Diaz-Canal as inflexible and unlikely to deliver meaningful reform, yet Washington would not go as far as delivering an ultimatum demanding his departure from office.
Escalating pressure on Havana amid economic turmoil
Rubio, a Cuban-American who previously served as a senator representing Miami, has spent years advocating for an end to Cuba's communist system — a regime originally established by Fidel Castro following the 1959 revolution. The Trump administration has steadily ramped up pressure on the Caribbean island, which continues to grapple with a severe economic crisis.
Washington dealt a significant blow to Cuba's economy by compelling Venezuela to cease oil shipments that had previously supplied half of the country's energy needs. This came after US forces conducted a raid on Caracas in January, resulting in the capture of left-wing President Nicolas Maduro. Trump has spoken of his interest in securing an unspecified "deal" with Cuba, while simultaneously suggesting he could take control of the country.
"Trump has followed a strategy not to overthrow governments, but to enforce compliance," the report noted, pointing to similar approaches in Venezuela and now Iran.
The American president has expressed approval of Delcy Rodriquez, Venezuela's interim leader and Maduro's former deputy, after initially adopting a more confrontational tone. Trump had previously warned of consequences should she fail to meet his demands, which included preferential treatment for American oil companies operating in the region.
Unlike Venezuela and Iran, Cuba lacks significant oil reserves. However, the island holds considerable sway in domestic American politics. Cuban-American legislators, the majority of whom belong to Trump's Republican Party, have long championed intensified pressure on Havana to undertake political and economic reforms.
South Africa's own diplomatic balancing act between Western powers and developing nations makes this US-Cuba standoff particularly relevant, as Pretoria maintains longstanding ties with Havana rooted in solidarity during the anti-apartheid struggle. Any shift in Washington's approach to Cuba could influence broader US foreign policy toward countries with similar political systems, potentially affecting trade relationships and diplomatic dynamics that South African businesses and policymakers must navigate in an increasingly polarised geopolitical landscape.
