Rubio offers "new relationship" to Cuban people

Secretary of State Marco Rubio marked Cuban Independence Day on Wednesday with a Spanish-language video message to the people of the island that blamed their "unimaginable hardships" on their communist leadership. Why it matters: This is the first time Rubio has addressed the Cuban population directly as secretary of state. It's part of the Trump administration's multi-layered pressure campaign targeting Havana . "The real reason you don't have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people," Rubio says in the speech. Later Wednesday, the Justice Department will unveil the indictment of Cuba's de facto leader, Raúl Castro, for allegedly ordering the shootdown of two Miami-based rescue planes in 1996. Zoom in: Rubio's speech focuses on the Cuban military business conglomerate known as GAESA — founded by Castro — that has an estimated $18 billion in assets and controls 70% of Cuba's economy through its control of hotels, construction, banks, stores and cash remittance from the U.S. Rubio contrasts the wealthy elites who run GAESA with the lives of destitute Cubans, seeking to show that revolutionary communism is a kleptocratic sham. "Cuba is not controlled by any 'revolution.' Cuba is controlled by GAESA," Rubio says. 'The only role played by the so-called 'government' is to demand that you continue making 'sacrifices' and repressing anyone who dares to complain." He adds: "Today, from media to entertainment, from the private sector to politics, and from music to sports, Cubans have reached the top of virtually ALL industries, in all countries, except one ... Cuba." The other side: Cuba's government and supporters blame the island's troubles on the longstanding U.S. embargo, the Trump administration's new sanctions and the lack of oil it used to receive for free from Venezuela before the U.S. seized leader Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3. "Acting...

Original source: Axios