The Secretary of State reiterated his commitment to “the pursuit of democracy, prosperity and fundamental freedoms” on the Island
14ymedio, Havana, November 5, 2025 — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Wednesday in Washington with Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, who arrived in exile on October 13 after being forced to leave the island. In an official statement, State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said that “Rubio expressed his admiration for Ferrer’s courage and resilience in the face of the Cuban regime’s oppression.”
According to the statement, the secretary and the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu) spoke about the situation in the east of the country after the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which left behind a trail of destruction and poverty in provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, Granma and Guantánamo.
Ferrer, who was recently released from prison and forced to leave the country after years of imprisonment and harassment, insisted on the need for humanitarian aid from Washington to reach “the people” directly and not be channeled through the regime. In his conversation with Rubio, he emphasized the role of the Catholic Church as a reliable conduit for distributing assistance amid the collapse of the state social welfare system.
He described the Secretary of State as a man “very intelligent and very well informed about everything that happens in Cuba”
“The United States is committed to supporting the Cuban people in their pursuit of democracy, prosperity, and fundamental freedoms,” Rubio reiterated, describing the work of Ferrer and other dissidents as “fundamental to the pro-democracy movement on the island.”
The Secretary of State, who took office earlier this year as part of the Republican administration, also posted a message on his X account: “We are pleased that he has been freed from repression, and the United States continues to support Ferrer and all Cubans fighting for freedom and justice.” The message was accompanied by two photographs of the meeting at the State Department building and has received tens of thousands of views. [130,000+ as of this translation]
In a video posted on social media, Ferrer thanked Rubio and his team for their solidarity with the Cubans affected by Hurricane Melissa. He described the Secretary of State as “very intelligent and very well informed about everything that is happening in Cuba.”
This Wednesday afternoon, the leader of UNPACU will receive the Freedom Prize, awarded by the International Republican Institute (IRI). Ferrer, 55, stated that he will accept the award on behalf of all those imprisoned under tyrannical regimes.
The meeting with Ferrer comes as the State Department intensifies its criticism of the Cuban regime and increases pressure on its main allies in the region. Rubio, a politician of Cuban descent and a staunch critic of Castroism, has reiterated that his administration will not resume cooperation channels with Havana as long as repression continues and there is no concrete progress toward political opening.
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