Cuban human rights activist Rosa María Payá has called on the Trump administration to increase pressure on Cuba’s communist government to resolve the island’s deepening crisis. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Payá emphasized that economic reforms alone will not solve Cuba’s ongoing humanitarian disaster marked by blackouts, food shortages, and growing public protests.
Energy Crisis Deepens Amid U.S. Sanctions
Recent nationwide blackouts across Cuba have been linked to a failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the country’s largest power station, according to Reuters. These outages compound an ongoing energy crisis worsened by fuel shortages following the Trump administration’s tightening of sanctions, particularly targeting oil shipments from Venezuela—a key supplier for Cuba. Cuban officials blame U.S. sanctions for worsening economic conditions, while repeated infrastructure failures have fueled public frustration and protests nationwide.
Activist Calls for Political Change and U.S. Support
Payá, daughter of the late dissident Oswaldo Payá, urged President Trump to support a transition away from communist rule. “The Cuban people are grateful for what this administration is doing and that we are ready, and we want to make Cuba great again,” she said, stressing the need for not just economic reform but “a new republic” free from dictatorship. She also highlighted the “Freedom Accord,” a political roadmap developed by Cuban opposition groups aimed at guiding a democratic transition.
Payá has spent over a decade advocating internationally for democracy in Cuba, continuing her father’s legacy after his death in 2012, which has been described by human rights groups as potentially involving Cuban state agents. She cited worsening conditions where “mothers don’t know if they are going to be able to feed their child tonight,” underscoring the severity of the humanitarian situation on the island.
U.S. Policy and Political Context
The Trump administration has strengthened sanctions recently, targeting the Cuban government’s access to energy resources to pressure for democratic change. Senator Marco Rubio, a key figure in shaping U.S. Cuba policy, has been praised by Trump and is seen as a central voice on the issue. Payá expressed readiness for collaboration with this administration and Cuban opposition groups to lead the democratic transition, describing the current moment as critical for change.
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