US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared Cuba's political and economic system "broken," stating it will not change under the current leadership. Rubio noted that Cubans succeed globally but are held back at home, urging a major overhaul. President Donald Trump has threatened to "take over" Cuba and expanded sanctions targeting security forces and officials. Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez rejected the measures as unilateral and illegal, while Brazil's President Lula confirmed Trump has no plans for a military invasion.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Cuba's current model is broken and won't change under current leadership. Trump threatens takeover, Cuba rejects sanctions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticised Cuba's political and economic system, saying the current model on the island "is broken" and warning that meaningful progress will remain impossible under the present leadership.

In an interview with NBC on Thursday (local time), Rubio said Cubans have demonstrated success globally but are being held back at home by the country's governing system.

"So, how do you have a prosperous state where people can succeed? Understand Cubans, you know this, you understand this as well as I do because of where we come from. Cubans are successful everywhere in the world except one place: Cuba," Rubio said.

He added that the United States wants Cubans to be able to thrive without having to leave the island.

"We don't want Cubans not to have to leave that island in order to be successful. But they can't, because the current model they have is- it's not just a model- it's broken. It doesn't work, and it'll never change as long as the people that are there now are running it," Rubio said.

Rubio also accused Cuba's leadership of resisting reform, saying, "They are close-minded, unfortunately. I hope I'm wrong. I would love for them to come to their senses and say, 'okay, we recognise this, it really has to change, and it has to change big'."

"But right now they don't seem to be indicating that, they seem to be digging in," he added.

Earlier, on May 1, US President Donald Trump said that the US would 'take over' Cuba immediately. Trump, while speaking at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches Dinner, said that Cuba has problems.