Trump and Rubio Allies Position Themselves for Potential Post-Regime Cuba Assets
Quick Brief
As intensifying US secondary sanctions drive foreign companies out of Cuba, a network of Washington and Florida insiders is positioning itself to control the island's key assets. Individuals tied to former President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with Cuban exiles, are charging high fees to help clients navigate sanctions while preparing for a potential regime collapse.
What Happened?
A wave of new secondary sanctions enforced this summer has forced numerous foreign businesses—including Spanish hotel chains, a Canadian mining firm, European shipping companies, and payment networks like Visa and Mastercard—to exit Cuba. Amid this economic pressure, a network of Washington and Florida insiders, billionaire Trump associates, Rubio-linked lobbyists, and Cuban exiles are maneuvering to secure control over Cuba's vital assets and positioning themselves for future business prospects should the communist government fall.
Why It Matters
The situation highlights how aggressive economic sanctions and pressure campaigns can inadvertently create lucrative opportunistic positioning for well-connected political insiders and lobbyists anticipating regime change, even as traditional foreign commerce on the island is dismantled.
Key Facts
- Intensifying US secondary sanctions have driven scores of foreign companies out of Cuba over the summer.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated last month that there are "no escape valves" in the ongoing pressure campaign against Cuba.
- Foreign entities exiting the island include Spanish hotel chains, a Canadian mining firm, European shipping giants, Visa, and Mastercard.
- A growing group of Washington and Florida insiders, billionaire Trump cronies, Rubio-linked lobbyists, and Cuban exiles are vying for control of key Cuban assets.
- These insiders are currently charging high fees to help clients navigate complex sanctions while eyeing post-regime business opportunities.
Compiled from 2 outlets
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