Rubio: Cuba’s economy requires governance reform

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba’s economic development is impossible without fundamental changes to its system of governance, arguing that structural political reform is a prerequisite for growth.

“Cuba’s economy needs to change and their economy can’t change unless their system of governance changes. It’s that simple. Who is going to invest billions of dollars in a communist country?” Rubio said, speaking to reporters ahead of his departure from the G7 summit in France, Caliber.Az reports. 

According to Rubio, meaningful economic progress in Cuba would require changes to the country’s leadership, governing system and economic model. He stressed that, in Washington’s view, the issue is not centered on the Castro family itself but on what he described as a regime that is not functioning effectively.

Rubio declined to give a direct answer when asked whether a potential agreement between Havana and Washington could allow relatives of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro to retain political influence as part of a broader normalisation process.

By Sabina Mammadli