'Cubastroika': the last opportunity for the Castros?

The article outlines a reported U.S. initiative dubbed Cubastroika, reviving a term that links Mijaíl Gorbachov’s perestroika to proposed economic and political changes in Cuba.

“Cuba — Night of pot-banging protests and blackouts in Havana America — Trump says the situation in Cuba is so desperate that in the end "there could be a friendly takeover" of the island Mijaíl Gorbachov has returned from the past to lend his name to Donald Trump's move against the Castro revolution: cubastroika”

El Mundo

According to leaked U.S. talks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio would push an economic package in secret negotiations with Raúl Castro's grandson that resembles Venezuelan-style reforms without oil or gold.

El Mundo

The package would aim to displace power from President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

The plan reportedly contemplates an amnesty for the Castro family and its 94-year-old leader.

Washington would be willing to relax sanctions on the energy sector, especially tourism and ports, according to the reports.

Some of these discussions allegedly took place during the Caricom summit at the end of March.

Three nights of pot-banging protests and widespread blackouts hit Havana amid what the article calls an "unprecedented humanitarian crisis".

The crisis is described as featuring an energy collapse, shortages of food and medicine, uncontrollable inflation, a deteriorated health system, and failing drinking water.

El Mundo

The article quotes Yudisleidys Coa, sister of a political prisoner, shouting: 'Abajo Díaz-Canel, que lo tiren para el mar, que se lo coman los tiburones. ¡Qué venga Donald Trump!'

She is also quoted saying: 'Que me metan presa, al menos no sufro tanto cuando lloran por comida'.

The article notes she has gone two months without school for her three children.

The report states that the oil embargo imposed since the fall of the Chavista dictator has worsened the multisystem crisis.

It adds that only 1% of the gasoline sold to the public is available compared with 2023 and that gasoline is sold in dollars.

Economist Emilio Morales warns the crisis is deeper than the 1990s Periodo Especial, saying 'The situation for the castrismo is much worse than during the Periodo Especial... Now they are other generations and another State, which has mutated into a mafia.'

“Cuba — Night of pot-banging protests and blackouts in Havana America — Trump says the situation in Cuba is so desperate that in the end "there could be a friendly takeover" of the island Mijaíl Gorbachov has returned from the past to lend his name to Donald Trump's move against the Castro revolution: cubastroika”

El Mundo

He adds that 'Day to day is very overwhelming, a murderous Molotov cocktail. And there is no way to recover it,' and concludes, 'Cuba is at the end of the line; it will fall very soon.'

The article recounts that Gorbachov's 1989 visit precipitated Cuba's earlier Periodo Especial by informing Fidel Castro of the end of Soviet subsidies.

Donald Trump is cited increasing pressure publicly, saying the situation is so desperate that 'there could be a friendly takeover' and asserting, 'They want to negotiate and they are doing it with Marco Rubio and with me,' while presenting the Escudo de las Américas military coalition of 13 American countries commanded by Washington.