Trump says he would consider military action against Cuba before leaving office in 2029
US President Donald Trump says he would “certainly consider” military action against Cuba and wants the issue resolved before he leaves office in 2029. In a Thursday phone interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump was asked whether he was considering “freeing Cuba” through military intervention. He replied that he wanted to “get Cuba done”, saying his administration was watching the situation closely. Politico described the remarks as the first time he had set a timeline for a possible operation.
Trump called Cuba a failed nation and said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents are from Cuba, “would love to do it”. He presented possible action as support for Cubans who had come to the United States and said he had won the Cuban vote in Florida by a wide margin. His comments followed repeated threats against Cuba: on Monday he said the government would fall fairly soon, while in March he said he might have the “honour of taking Cuba”, as the island’s power grid collapsed.
US pressure has intensified since January, when Washington imposed a de facto oil blockade after seizing Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and cutting off Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba. Sanctions and fuel restrictions have contributed to nationwide blackouts, shortages of food and fuel, and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Cuba has called the measures collective punishment. Washington has also sanctioned President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuba’s state oil company, relatives of former President Raul Castro, and other government, military and oil-linked entities. Although officials from both sides have held talks, Cuba’s foreign minister said in June that there had been no progress. US Southern Command has said troops were not rehearsing for an invasion, while Cuban officials say the island is prepared for any attack.
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