Trump and Rubio Allies Eye Cuban Assets After Regime Collapse

Washington and Florida‑based lobbyists and former Cuban exiles are reportedly courting lucrative opportunities to acquire assets in a post‑communist Cuba that is increasingly isolated by U.S. sanctions. The island’s key sectors—Spanish hotel chains, a Canadian mining firm, European shipping companies, and major credit card issuers such as Visa and Mastercard—have seen dozens of foreign investors exit this summer after the Treasury Department announced a new wave of secondary sanctions. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, has warned that there are “no escape valves” from the intensified pressure campaign, yet a growing cohort of Washington insiders, including billionaire allies of former President Trump and Rubio‑linked lobbyists, are positioning themselves to facilitate the transfer of control over Cuba’s remaining assets, charging premium fees for expertise in navigating the sanctions regime and preparing for potential regime collapse.

The strategy hinges on securing access to Cuba’s strategic infrastructure and commercial holdings before the U.S. policy shifts further. By establishing legal and financial footholds now, these actors hope to reap significant returns if the Cuban government falls or reforms, allowing them to claim ownership of hotels, mines, shipping terminals, and financial services that would otherwise be locked behind U.S. restrictions. While the U.S. maintains a hard‑line stance, the move by Washington and Florida insiders underscores the continuing global scramble for influence over Cuba’s economic future amid escalating sanctions.