A new report suggests that the administration of Donald Trump may soon shift its attention toward Cuba following recent geopolitical developments involving Venezuela.
According to a Daily Mail report on March 11th, senior officials are considering a tougher approach toward the island nation, long viewed by many U.S. leaders as a strategic concern just 90 miles from American shores.
At the center of the reported strategy is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime critic of the Cuban government who has repeatedly called for stronger pressure on Havana. The discussions come after the dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, an event that reshaped the political landscape in parts of Latin America.
With Venezuela no longer dominating Washington’s regional agenda, attention appears to be shifting to Cuba, a country that has defied decades of U.S. pressure and sanctions.
Renewed focus on Havana
People familiar with the discussions say that Rubio and several members of the administration believe the moment is right to revisit U.S. policy toward Cuba. The island has long been subject to an American economic embargo dating back to the Cold War, yet its political system has remained largely unchanged.
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The plan being discussed reportedly involves tightening economic pressure while also seeking to isolate Cuba diplomatically. Some officials believe this could force the government in Havana to reconsider its political and economic model.
A complicated history
Relations between the United States and Cuba have been strained for more than six decades. The conflict intensified after the Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959, which brought a communist government to power and aligned the island with the Soviet Union.
One of the most dramatic moments in the relationship came during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when the world came close to nuclear war after the discovery of Soviet missiles stationed on the island.
Since then, successive U.S. administrations have taken different approaches toward Cuba. Some pursued engagement and diplomatic openings, while others tightened sanctions and restrictions.
Trump’s first presidency was marked by a rollback of several policies introduced by Barack Obama that had aimed to normalize relations with Havana.
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The wider conflict has come at a high cost. Reports indicate that more than 1,500 people across the Middle East have been killed since the strikes began, including civilians. Seven American soldiers have also died during the conflict, while human rights organizations have raised concerns about airstrikes that reportedly killed dozens of children and have called for investigations.
Against that backdrop, President Donald Trump has openly suggested that Cuba could face major political change. Speaking in early March, Trump said the island might eventually experience either a “friendly takeover” or an “unfriendly takeover,” citing the country’s worsening economic and energy situation.
According to Trump, Cuba is facing severe shortages and financial hardship, conditions he said could push the government toward negotiations with Washington.
In February, the Trump administration took a step that partially altered long-standing restrictions tied to the 1960 U.S. embargo. Washington began allowing American petroleum products, including diesel, to be sold directly to Cuba’s private sector rather than through the state.
The move was widely seen as an attempt to bypass government control while providing relief to small businesses on the island.
