Trump’s Hawkish Cabinet Pick Heightens Pressure on Weakened Cuba
- Rubio expected to take tough stance as secretary of state
- Island is struggling with hunger, blackouts, economic turmoil
Senator Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has made his heritage and opposition to communism central to his political identity.
Photographer: Eva Marie Uzcategui/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Cuba is hemorrhaging people as the economy falters. Now, the country is coming under fresh political pressure as one of the government’s archrivals is poised to start calling foreign-policy shots in Washington.
With Donald Trump headed back to the White House and hawkish Senator Marco Rubio picked as his secretary of state, the island’s leadership is bracing for what comes next. Hunger, blackouts, hurricanes and earthquakes already have the country reeling, and speculation is building that the incoming administration will further tighten the screws.