Cuban singer Emilio Estefan backed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday in his “negotiations” with Havana, but called for a complete change in the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel and its replacement with “a new generation”.
“In this moment of negotiation, at least we have Marco Rubio, one of our own, who knows the pain first hand, who knows the reality of our country and is in a position of leadership, and we trust that he will do what is best for our people,” the musician wrote on Instagram.
Estefan, who left the island in 1967, considered that “this is a moment of hope for Cuba” after reports in the U.S. press last February about negotiations between Rubio and the grandson of former President Raúl Castro (2006-2018), Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro.
Despite supporting the Secretary of State’s effort, the producer insisted that “all those in the government who are there must leave,” a message promoted by Cuban exile organizations in Florida.
Emilio Estefan talks about the situation in Cuba
“We cannot allow the damage that has been done to our people for so long to continue. There has to be a new generation, a new force, that drives the real change that Cuba needs,” the artist said.
The controversy grew two weeks ago when The New York Times published that Washington had asked its interlocutors in Cuba for Díaz-Canel’s resignation, without demanding a change in the regime or the Castro family’s departure from power, an information denied by Rubio and the White House.
In addition, the United States this weekend allowed the arrival of a Russian oil tanker to Cuba, despite the energy blockade it imposed on the island, as U.S. President Donald Trump said he has “no problem” because “they have to survive”.
“It doesn’t bother me (…) they have a bad regime, they have a bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not a ship of oil reaches them, that doesn’t matter,” the president said on Sunday, while Russia warned on Monday that it will continue to send crude oil.
Estefan concluded with a call to “all Cubans to unite for a FREE CUBA!
“This is a message of unity, to help the Cuban people, who have suffered so much,” he concluded, reported Agencia EFE.
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