Cuban Pensioners Queue for Hours as Trump Presses for Concession
The US demands political and economic reforms while Havana holds firm, leaving ordinary citizens to face shrinking wages and power outages.
By Beatriz Bailey ·
Washington is demanding structural changes in Havana, but the island's leadership says it will not yield to pressure. This standoff has pushed daily life for average Cubans to the brink.
President Donald Trump stated on Friday at a Florida campaign rally that the US military will return to the region after the Iran conflict. He described a scenario where US ships stop approximately 50 yards off the coast of Cuba. He said the crew would raise their hands in a display of force.
The administration has increased economic sanctions to their highest level in history. It has cut off oil supplies needed for the electrical grid and threatened military action. Officials in Havana claim they will not accept a deal under duress. They believe they can outlast the current US administration.
The US seeks to open Cuba's political system and economy. It wants to allow exiles to return and invest in the island. It also demands that Cuba end alliances with Russia and China. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said last week that US policies must change regardless of which administration is in power.
Tensions flared at the United Nations on Tuesday. Rodríguez attempted to interrupt US Ambassador Mike Waltz during a speech. Waltz told Rodríguez to back away from the podium. He said the location was not Havana.
A small group of Cubans has made fortunes by importing gasoline, food, and other goods. They profit from the desperation of the general population by finding loopholes in the embargo and the local economy. In Havana, it is common to see women holding children beg at traffic lights. New luxury vehicles drive past them.
A gourmet store in Havana sells Wagyu steaks, Russian caviar, and Spanish olive oil to the elite. A man entered the store and saw frozen meat priced at about 10 times the average monthly salary. He asked the sales attendant if the price was correct.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X on Friday. He called for disaffected officials within the Cuban government to partner with the CIA. He said the time to create positive change was now. He cited failed promises and corruption as reasons to act.
Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's top diplomat for US affairs, responded on X. He said the US was resorting to public recruitment ads. He joked that the agency must be in desperation if it sells its offerings like toothpaste.
Cuban officials believe Trump may stay focused on the war in Iran. They think a potential loss in the mid-term elections could lower Cuba's priority for the US. A deal would likely face strong opposition from anti-communist exiles in Miami. They believe the revolution is ending.
The government has announced reforms to allow Cubans to amass wealth. Many citizens complain that only insiders with connections benefit from the shift toward capitalism. On a recent morning, retired Cubans stood in line outside a bank three hours before it opened. They waited to collect their shrinking pensions. Power outages in the neighborhood had prevented some from receiving payments for several days.
Armando Ruiz, a retired construction worker, is waiting for his monthly pension of 3,900 pesos. The amount is less than five dollars at black market exchange rates. He said the money is only enough to buy a little food. He asked how long the situation can continue.
Source: CNN
