Addressing the Cuban people directly in Spanish, Rubio accused the country's communist leadership of theft, corruption and oppression.

The speech is part of the Trump administration's multi-layered pressure campaign targeting Havana.

Havana acusa Marco Rubio de mentir de maneira inescrupulosa; ajuda será distribuída por Igreja ou ONGs

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered to forge a new relationship between the US and Cuba on Wednesday in a video message to the Cuban people,