United States President Donald Trump has signalled that his administration is continuing to pursue a change of government in Cuba, suggesting the island nation could face a “friendly takeover”.
Speaking to reporters in Florida on Monday, the president stated that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently “dealing” with the situation, reports Al Jazeera.
Trump remarked that while a friendly takeover is a possibility, the specific nature of the transition “wouldn’t really matter” because the country is “down to… fumes” and lacks both energy and money.
The president repeated claims that the Cuban government is prepared to negotiate or is on the verge of “falling” as it faces a spiralling energy and economic crisis.
Cuba has been struggling with a severe energy shortage since January, when US forces abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This action halted fuel exports from Caracas to Havana, severing a vital source of oil for the Cuban economy.
While White House officials suggest the Cuban government is ready to “make a deal” with Washington, Havana has denied reports of high-level talks. However, Cuba has not “outright” denied US media reports concerning “informal talks” between US officials and Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban president Raul Castro.
Trump’s actions represent a revival of the “Monroe Doctrine,” a 19th-century policy asserting that the Western Hemisphere should remain solely under the influence of the US.
He is the first US president since the Cold War to openly discuss and pursue a change of government in Havana.
These developments come as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its second week. Other regional tensions persist, with reports indicating that Iran claims nearly 10,000 civilian sites have been hit by the US and Israel since the conflict began.
In response to the regional instability, Australia has announced it will send missiles to the UAE and a surveillance plane to assist with Gulf defence.
