Carlos Gutiérrez, originally from Havana and a former U.S. Commerce Secretary under President George W. Bush, expressed support for Donald Trump and Marco Rubio's approach to Cuba during an interview with Gloria Ordaz on Telemundo 51. However, he cautioned that any significant results would not be immediate.
"I believe they're being strategic. The change will be gradual," Gutiérrez stated in the interview aired on Wednesday night during the program Virtual Encounter. This conversation comes as the United States signals its intent to push for substantial political changes in Cuba while Trump and Rubio have expressed a preference for a negotiated solution over military intervention.
Addressing the situation, Gutiérrez emphasized a realistic perspective: "We love to think change will happen overnight, that everything will revert to how it was. But we need to be realistic."
Having left Cuba with his family in 1960 as a child, Gutiérrez stressed that pressure tactics should not target the Cuban population: "I don't think we should continue to punish the Cuban people."
He voiced concern that Cubans might view their daily hardships—such as shortages, power outages, and poverty—as repercussions of the conflict between Washington and the regime, rather than as the direct outcome of 67 years of dictatorship.
Priorities for Cuba's Future
Regarding priorities in a potential transition, Gutiérrez was clear: the foremost step should be enabling Cubans to start their own businesses, focusing on the private sector as a catalyst for change.
His stance differs from the disappointment expressed by Cuban exiles in Miami, who hoped for an intervention similar to the capture of Maduro, which has led to a sense of frustration within the community when it did not materialize.
Gutiérrez, who leads the U.S.-Cuba Business Council and rose through the ranks without a university degree—from a Kellogg salesman in Mexico to the company's CEO and later a member of Bush's cabinet—also commented on Venezuela.
He described Maduro's capture as "incredible" and "great," likening the operation to a "movie-like" endeavor, but noted the real challenge lies ahead: "The interesting part will be the transition to elections, and that's where we'll truly see if progress continues."
Economic and Political Insights
On the economic front, the former secretary suggested that the Trump administration's tariff policies need adjustment: "I think tariffs will have to come down." He also predicted a political shift: "I believe the Senate will go to the Democrats. We'll see."
Concerning Washington's decision to remove Jorge Rodríguez—the president of Venezuela's National Assembly and brother of interim president Delcy Rodríguez—from the OFAC sanctions list, Gutiérrez offered his interpretation: the action likely resulted from a negotiation between the two governments. "You give me something, I give you something," he summarized, noting this was his personal interpretation, as the details of any such exchange were not disclosed.
The lifting of sanctions on Jorge Rodríguez coincided with the start of the third round of talks between the Chavista government and opposition factions in Caracas on the same Wednesday.
Understanding U.S.-Cuba Relations
Why does Carlos Gutiérrez believe change in Cuba will be gradual?
Gutiérrez believes that strategic approaches by leaders like Trump and Rubio will lead to gradual change in Cuba, as opposed to immediate transformations.
What are Gutiérrez's views on economic policies related to tariffs?
He suggests that the current tariff policies of the Trump administration should be revised, predicting that tariffs will need to be lowered for economic improvement.
How does Gutiérrez perceive the impact of U.S. policies on the Cuban people?
Gutiérrez argues that pressure tactics should not be directed at the Cuban population, as their hardships should not be exacerbated by external policies.