Marco Rubio criticizes Fidel Castro's legacy on centenary

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a sharp critique of Fidel Castro on the centenary of the former Cuban leader's birth. In a statement released on social media, Rubio described Castro as a “complete failure in everything except destroying Cuba and impoverishing, imprisoning, and murdering his own people.”

Rubio also issued a warning to current Cuban authorities, specifically President Miguel Díaz-Canel, suggesting that anyone attempting to follow Castro's path would be “condemning themselves to failure.”

The remarks come as the Cuban government held closed-door commemorations for the centenary. This occurs amidst a severe domestic crisis in Cuba, characterized by daily power outages exceeding 20 hours and a significant deterioration of basic services. The political tension follows years of intensified U.S. pressure and economic blockades on the island.