U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that the Cuban government may be on the verge of collapse and expressed a desire to negotiate with its leadership. In an interview with CNN, Trump described Cuba as “the next task” for his administration, following Iran.
During the interview, Trump stated,
“Cuba, by the way, is going to fall soon, irrespective of anything, but they want to make a deal.”
He also mentioned plans to appoint U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as a special envoy to Cuba, suggesting that Rubio is already prepared to address the situation.
On January 30, Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency concerning Cuba, citing the Cuban government’s actions as a “serious threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy. He accused Havana of supporting hostile nations and terrorist organizations, including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
Trump remarked,
“I am going to put Marco Rubio in there, and we will see how it works. We are really focused on this now. We have a lot of time, but Cuba is ready—after 50 years.”
He noted that while Rubio is currently focused on Iran, he is prepared to tackle the Cuban issue.
The Cuban government has responded, labeling the U.S. as a threat and declaring an “international emergency” in light of U.S. actions.
On February 25, an incident occurred in Cuban territorial waters involving gunfire between the island’s coast guard and passengers on a U.S.-registered speedboat, resulting in four fatalities and seven injuries. The Florida Attorney General announced that the U.S. would conduct its own investigation into the matter.
Trump has consistently criticized the Cuban regime, accusing it of terrorism, drug trafficking to the U.S., and fostering anti-American sentiments in the region. Similar accusations have been directed at Venezuela, where U.S. military actions have not led to a regime change despite efforts to remove President Nicolás Maduro.
As the situation develops, the U.S. administration appears poised to take a more active role in Cuban affairs, with potential implications for regional stability.
President Trump has outlined a potential shift in U.S. policy towards Cuba, indicating a desire to negotiate with its government and appointing Marco Rubio as a special envoy. This comes amid rising tensions and recent incidents involving U.S. and Cuban forces.