‘This is his legacy’: Marco Rubio nears goal of toppling Cuba’s government | Marco Rubio
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-05-22 09:31:00 — www.theguardian.com
Marco Rubio’s Moment: A New Era for U.S.-Cuba Relations
The Trump administration’s intensified campaign to exert “maximum pressure” on Cuba has positioned Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and the current Secretary of State and National Security Adviser, at the forefront of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. This strategic pivot aims to dismantle the 67-year-old communist regime in Havana, a goal Rubio has pursued for decades. In a recent video released on Cuban Independence Day, Rubio asserted in Spanish that the U.S. embargo is not the root cause of Cuba’s hardships, stating, “currently, the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country.”
Rubio’s Longstanding Ambitions
Rubio’s ascent within the Trump administration reflects his longstanding commitment to U.S. intervention in Cuba. A close associate remarked, “All roads have been leading to Cuba for [Rubio]. He has wanted this for a long time, and now he finally has the authority to reach that goal.” The Trump administration has signaled its intent to unseat Cuba’s government, with Trump claiming, “Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years, doing something [about Cuba]. And it looks like I’ll be the one that does it. So I would be happy to do it.”
Military Posturing and National Security Claims
The U.S. military presence in the region has also escalated, with the USS Nimitz and its strike group deployed to the southern Caribbean as a show of force against Cuba. The administration has framed Cuba as a national security threat, citing reports that the island has acquired over 300 military drones capable of targeting U.S. interests. Rubio amplified these claims, stating, “[Havana] not only has weapons they’ve acquired from Russia and China, but they also host Russian and Chinese intelligence presence in their country.”
However, these assertions have drawn skepticism. Senator Chris Murphy, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern that the intelligence could serve as a pretext for further military intervention, suggesting that Trump may be vulnerable to “dangerous people around him with dangerous agendas.”
Shifting Foreign Policy Dynamics
Rubio’s rise coincides with a broader shift in the Trump administration’s foreign policy, which has increasingly embraced military interventions abroad. Initially promising an “America First” approach, the administration’s actions in Venezuela to unseat Nicolás Maduro marked a significant departure from this stance. Observers note that this has fueled a desire for rapid victories through overwhelming force, a strategy Rubio has adeptly navigated.
Matthew Kroenig, a vice president at the Atlantic Council and former foreign policy adviser to Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign, remarked, “The kind of foreign policy Trump is carrying out right now is not that different from what I would have expected from a Rubio 2016 [presidency]: tough on dictatorships, use of force in Iran to stop them from getting nuclear weapons.”
Implications for U.S.-Cuba Relations
As pressure mounts on the Cuban government, the humanitarian consequences of the U.S. embargo are becoming increasingly apparent. Fuel shortages have led to widespread blackouts and disruptions in basic services across the island. Critics argue that while the sanctions aim to weaken the regime, they disproportionately affect ordinary Cubans.
Adolfo Franco, a Republican strategist and former head of the U.S. foreign assistance program to Cuba, emphasized the unique opportunity Rubio has in this moment, stating, “He is in a position of influence that no other Cuban-American has ever held.” However, he cautioned that if the Cuban regime survives this period, it would represent a significant failure for Rubio’s tenure.
Conclusion: A Critical Juncture
Marco Rubio’s current role in shaping U.S. policy towards Cuba represents a critical juncture in the long-standing conflict between the two nations. As the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to exert pressure on the Cuban government, the implications for both U.S. foreign policy and the Cuban people remain uncertain. With the potential for military intervention looming, the stakes are high, and the world watches closely as Rubio seeks to fulfill a personal and political ambition that has defined much of his career.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/22/marco-rubio-nears-goal-topple-cuba-government