Washington and Florida insiders are exploring lucrative deals for a post-communist Cuba crushed by ever-increasing US sanctions

Washington and Florida insiders are exploring lucrative deals for a post-communist Cuba crushed by ever-increasing US sanctions

Spanish hotel chains. A Canadian mining firm. European shipping giants. Visa and Mastercard. Scores of foreign companies have been driven out of Cuba this summer over fear of being hit with potent, new secondary sanctions. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, told Axios last month there are “no escape valves” from his unprecedented pressure campaign against the island.

But not everybody is losing out. A growing cast of Washington and Florida insiders – from billionaire Trump cronies and Rubio-linked lobbyists to Cuban exiles – are jockeying for control of the communist-ruled island-nation’s key assets, charging top dollar to help clients navigate the ever-expanding web of sanctions, and positioning themselves for lucrative business opportunities in the case of regime collapse.

Since an executive order signed by Donald Trump on 1 May drove Canada’s Sherritt International from its nickel and cobalt mining joint venture with the Cuban state, two rival US bids to buy out its stake have been presented to US authorities.

    • SpruceBringsteen@lemmy.worldEnglish
      36·
      2 months ago

      There were a lot of very well off Cubans who fled to the US who probably see this as an opportunity to go and reclaim what they see as long lost family fortunes.

      • MrSpArkle@lemmy.caEnglish
        38·
        2 months ago

        What kind of fantasy bullshit are you talking about? You think every Cuban that floated to miami on some piece of garbage was some wealthy slave owner?

        Fucking sapingo over here.

        Fidel imprisoned and punished and persecuted all kinds of people, and the American sanctions made life hard. The dry foot policy made it an easy decision for many people looking for a better life.

        The main driver for their support for Trump isn’t some fear of “the revolution”, it’s that Cubans are socially conservative, so they will latch onto the Republican Party.

        • codydodd@lemmy.caEnglish
          2·
          2 months ago

          It is upheld by reducing education of USians and promoting American exceptionalism. It is not logical in that it is slowly destroying their own nation.

  • TheJesusaurus@piefed.caEnglish
    301·
    2 months ago

    We backed down on this shit? Fuck that why are we doing anything in fear of America at this point. They’re going to do whatever they want anyway. Fuck trump, fuck the USA. Solidarity with cuba

      • Lumisal@lemmy.worldEnglish
        41·
        2 months ago

        I mean, the USA keeps proving them right on their drastic measures. Like imagine you’re making a point right under an article of how they want to loot the land. Yeah, nationalizing property is probably a good idea when you have a neighbor looking to try to buy out the country via force. Political paranoia and limiting speech are a lot more reasonable when the neighboring country has a verifiable history of trying to instigate shit constantly over time, including literally now via a severe embargo.

        I’m not sure how the hell you don’t connect the dots on how Cuba’s state is literally a result of US actions. It’s the equivalent of saying Palestinian citizens deserve what they’ve gotten because their government was antagonistic against Israel, after decades of Israel fucking them over and killing people.

    • balsoft@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      2 months ago

      I’m afraid this may be overly optimistic. Last year the same was said about Venezuela, and look where it is now.

  • Tolc@lemmy.worldEnglish
    112·
    2 months ago

    Long live the cuban revolution

    glory to the people of cuba

  • Malica@lemmy.zipEnglish
    5·
    2 months ago

    Cuba has spent the past 50 years sending doctors all over the world, quietly, without looking for recognition or praise. Meanwhile the USA has spread only death and destruction during that time. These people make me sick.