• Marco Rubio proposed a $100 million aid package to Cuba during a video address.
• The U.S. aims to establish a new relationship with the Cuban people, bypassing the ruling elite.
• Preparations for indicting Raúl Castro link with U.S. allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the Cuban populace on Cuban Independence Day, proposing a new relationship with an offer of $100 million in aid, including food and medicine. Rubio claimed the economic hardships faced by ordinary Cubans are due to the corruption of their leaders. "The real reason you don't have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars," he stated, criticising the ruling elite, particularly the Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), which he accused of monopolizing the economy, according to Reuters, India Times, and CBS News.

In a Spanish-language video, Rubio detailed the extent of GAESA's control over Cuba's economy, which he claims encompasses nearly 70% of the country’s financial resources. He assured that the proposed aid would not fall into the hands of GAESA, but instead should be distributed through trusted organizations like the Catholic Church. Rubio criticized the elite for profiting while the general populace suffers, emphasizing that humanitarian assistance is aimed directly at the Cuban people, according to Reuters and India Times.

Rubio’s address coincided with expectations of an indictment against former President Raúl Castro for actions related to the shooting down of planes in 1996. He emphasized that the humanitarian crisis in Cuba is exacerbated by the actions of its leaders rather than any supposed U.S. blockade. Rubio stated, "President Trump is offering a new path between the U.S. and a new Cuba," highlighting a long-term vision for a prosperous future for ordinary Cubans free from elite control, according to Reuters, India Times, and CBS News.