On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that the United States is engaged in discussions with Havana, hinting at the possibility of a "friendly takeover of Cuba." This statement came during a press briefing outside the White House as Trump was preparing to depart for Texas. He mentioned that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in high-level discussions with Cuban officials.
In his comments, Trump stated, "The Cuban government is talking with us. They have no money. They have no anything right now. But they’re talking to us, and maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba." He did not elaborate on what he meant by the "friendly takeover" but suggested that the current situation in Cuba, a communist-run nation long viewed as an adversary by Washington, is critical. The White House did not provide further clarification on Trump’s remarks.
Trump characterized Cuba as "a failed nation" and claimed, "they want our help." This announcement came shortly after the Cuban government reported an incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat carrying armed Cubans that opened fire on military personnel off Cuba's north coast, resulting in multiple casualties. Such incidents underscore the ongoing tensions between Cuba and the U.S.
The idea of a potential shift in U.S.-Cuba relations has been on Trump's radar since at least early January following the ousting of Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's socialist president and a key ally of Havana. Trump hinted that military intervention in Cuba may not be necessary due to the island's struggling economy, particularly after Venezuela ceased its oil shipments to Cuba, which had been crucial for its economy.
He expressed, "We’ve had a lot of years of dealing with Cuba. I've been hearing about Cuba since I’m a little boy. But they’re in big trouble." Alongside his analysis, he mentioned the Cuban exile community in the U.S., suggesting there could be forthcoming positive developments for those who have suffered under the Cuban regime, although he did not provide specifics.
The U.S. has upheld a stringent trade embargo against Cuba since 1962. Trump previously indicated that dialogues with Cuban officials were progressing. Following the recent shooting incident involving the American boat, Cuba confirmed communication with U.S. officials, while Rubio stated that investigations by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard are ongoing.
Furthermore, an executive order signed by Trump in January aims to impose tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. This directive has raised concerns as Cuba faces an acute energy crisis. U.S. authorities clarified that under some conditions, oil from Venezuela could still reach Cuban interests. Meanwhile, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's deputy foreign minister, criticized the U.S. fuel embargo, asserting that it is a form of collective punishment affecting the Cuban population.
In response to the situation, over 40 U.S. civil society organizations sent a letter to Congress, urging lawmakers to intervene against Trump's foreign policy towards Cuba. The letter claims that Trump's strategy of restricting oil shipments will precipitate a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, labeling such actions as a "grave violation of international humanitarian law." The signatories included various influential organizations, emphasizing the need for policy change regarding humanitarian concerns.
