US President Donald Trump said on Friday that “Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon”, renewing threats against the communist-led Caribbean nation, which is already grappling with a US energy blockade.
“They want to make a deal so badly,” Trump told CNN during an interview, a day after indicating that he could focus on a separate initiative concerning Cuba once the conflict with Iran has ended.
“We’ve got plenty of time, but Cuba’s ready — after 50 years,” Trump said, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would take the lead on US engagement with the island.
Both Trump and Rubio — whose parents were Cuban immigrants — have openly expressed support for political change in Havana.
Washington has already imposed an energy blockade on the Caribbean country, a move that has sharply reduced Cuba’s fuel reserves. The situation worsened after the United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose government had long supplied oil to the island.
Cuba has not received any oil shipments since 9 January, forcing airlines to scale back flights to the country and intensifying its prolonged economic difficulties.
Authorities in Havana accuse the Trump administration of deliberately attempting to cripple the Cuban economy.
The island has been under a US trade embargo since 1962 and has endured years of severe economic hardship, including extended power outages and persistent shortages of fuel, medicines and food.