Republican figures linked to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are exploring ways to profit from Cuba’s economic pressure, with some aiming to position themselves to control key assets if the current government falls. The reporting describes a range of Washington and Florida insiders—along with Cuban exiles and business contacts—seeking business deals amid heightened U.S. sanctions that are driving foreign firms out of the island.
The context is an escalating U.S. campaign that increases the risk to companies doing business with Cuba through new “secondary sanctions.” The Guardian reports that officials and lobbyists frame the situation as a limited window created by the pressure campaign, while detailing efforts by multiple groups to navigate or benefit from the disruption. It also cites fallout that includes the departure of firms such as Sherritt International and other foreign companies, and mentions U.S. efforts that Rubio describes as having “no escape valves.”
Across outlets, the differing emphasis is on who is involved and where they are trying to gain leverage. The New Republic focuses more on behind-the-scenes preparation by political donors and Trump-associated business interests, while the Guardian provides a broader marketplace view of industries and intermediaries positioning for a potential regime change. Both accounts describe meetings, investment interest, and offshore or third-party pathways used to continue operating amid sanctions.
