The president says the island nation is ‘at the end of the line,’ with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading negotiation efforts.
President Donald Trump said on Monday that Cuba faces severe humanitarian challenges and suggested the possibility of a U.S. takeover, which he described as potentially friendly or not.
Speaking at a news conference at Trump National Doral Miami, the president noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is handling the matter. “He’s dealing [with it], and it may be a friendly takeover, it may not be a friendly takeover,” Trump said.
“Wouldn’t really matter because they’re really down to … as they say, fumes,” he said, adding that Cuba is critically weakened and has “no energy, they have no money.”
On Sunday, the president said that Cuban officials are discussing a deal with him, Rubio, and others, predicting it could be reached easily.
This follows Trump’s urging since earlier this year for Cuba to make an agreement, especially after the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January, which severed Cuba’s primary oil supply from Venezuela.
At a Florida summit on Saturday, announcing a military coalition against drug cartels, Trump suggested Cuba as a potential next target, calling the communist regime “at the end of the line” and confirming ongoing negotiations between the island nation and Rubio.
Earlier, last Thursday, during a White House event, Trump highlighted progress against Iran and described Cuba’s eagerness for a deal, praising Rubio’s role in both Cuban and Venezuelan affairs.
On March 1, Trump first floated a “friendly takeover,” noting Cuba’s lack of money, oil, and food, with Rubio in high-level talks. These developments come after talks began in February after the Trump administration cut off Havana’s oil supplies, leading to fuel shortages that prompted Cuba to warn airlines and Air Canada to cancel flights
Trump on Jan. 29 issued an executive order imposing tariffs on any nation selling oil to Cuba, accusing the regime of ties to Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah. The order ended imports from Mexico and exacerbated shortages in the communist-run island. The Maduro capture further isolated Cuba, as Venezuela had been its main oil provider.
Trump on Jan. 31 said U.S. officials had begun talks with Cuba, adding that “they need help on a humanitarian basis.”
