Cuba’s Foreign Investors Aren’t Fleeing Communism — They’re Fleeing Sanctions

“Foreign companies are abandoning their investments in Cuba. They’re not fleeing communism. They’re fleeing Trump’s sanctions,” said Yohan Rodríguez, journalist with Belly of the Beast.

“Who’s going to invest billions of dollars in a communist country?” said Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, in archival footage.

“Well, a lot of people, if you didn’t threaten them,” Rodríguez said.

“On May 1, Trump signed an Executive Order sanctioning foreign companies doing business in Cuba. But why would a company in Spain or Canada or Australia care about what Trump says? Because they could have their U.S. bank account seized. Or lose access to the U.S. financial system entirely. Or the companies’ executives, and all their family members, can be banned from entering the U.S.,” the journalist said.

“Mining companies from Canada and Australia. Shipping companies from Germany and France. Hotel companies from Canada and Spain. All gone,” Rodríguez said.

“Even Mastercard and Visa left,” he added.

“Here’s a better question: Who benefits when every foreign company leaves Cuba?” the journalist said.

“If you guessed C, you’re right,” Rodríguez said.

“Days after a Canadian mining company called Sherritt announced it was leaving Cuba, they also confirmed the sale of most of the shares to Gillon, a Texas company,” he continued.

“Gillon is controlled by Ray Washburne, who is a Trump fundraiser and ally,” Rodríguez said.

“Cuba’s economy needs to change,” Rubio said in a separate archival clip.

“Translation: Out with the existing investors. In with Trump’s friends. That’s not free market reform. That’s crony capitalism,” Rodríguez concluded.