• Cuba invites exiles, including U.S.-based nationals, to invest in its economy.
• The policy aims to revitalize a struggling economy impacted by U.S. sanctions.
• Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga emphasizes opportunities for large-scale investments.
• Recent U.S. policies under Trump have exacerbated Cuba's economic hardships.
• The shift reflects a significant change from decades of state-controlled economic policies.

The Cuban government announced plans to allow Cuban nationals living abroad, particularly in the U.S., to invest in businesses on the island, as part of efforts to revitalize its struggling economy. Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga stated, "Cuba is open to having a fluid commercial relationship with U.S. companies [and] also with Cubans residing in the United States and their descendants," signaling a notable shift from decades of stringent economic controls, according to CBS News.

This investment policy opens doors to not only small ventures but also larger infrastructure projects, addressing the economic challenges exacerbated by a blockade and U.S. sanctions, which have resulted in significant shortages of fuel, food, and medicine. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the urgency for economic revival, particularly as "Cuba needs desperately to revive its collapsed economy," according to Reuters and Anadolu Agency.

The change comes amid heightened tensions with the U.S. administration, particularly under President Trump, who has threatened tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba. Trump's statements about Cuba, including viewing it as a "failed nation," have contributed to a climate of uncertainty that hampers foreign investment. "I can do anything I want" regarding Cuba, Trump stated, indicating the administration's strategic priorities in the region, according to Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency.