President Donald Trump has hinted that the US may set its sights on Cuba once military operations in Iran have concluded.Speaking during a White House reception for the Inter Miami football team, the President addressed an audience that included many Cuban Americans.Mr Trump said: “What’s happening with Cuba is amazing.”And we think that, we want to finish this one [Iran] first, but that will be just a question of time.”
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He suggested Cuban Americans could soon return to their homeland, telling guests it would be “just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba”.Mr Trump also praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his handling of policy toward the island, drawing applause from the audience.“And you’ve been doing a fantastic job on a place called Cuba,” the President said.The remarks come as the administration continues to tighten economic pressure on Havana, including measures that have cut off oil shipments from Venezuela – previously a key economic lifeline for the island nation.Mr Trump has recently suggested the US could even pursue a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, arguing the country is in severe economic crisis and may seek American help.Republican senator Lindsey Graham echoed the administration’s tone during a recent interview, declaring: “Cuba’s next.”In an earlier interview, Mr Trump predicted that if the Iranian government collapses, the Cuban regime could soon follow.“How long have you been hearing about Cuba, Cuba, Cuba for 50 years? And that’s one of the small ones for me.”DONALD TRUMP – READ THE LATEST:Donald Trump axes Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary in top team shake-upKeir Starmer stands by decision not to join Donald Trump in Iran bombing blitzKing’s US visit ‘can’t come quickly enough’ as Donald Trump’s fury at Keir Starmer growsManuel Barcia, a history professor at the University of Bath who left Cuba in 2001, has predicted that “Cuba’s Berlin Wall moment is around the corner”.He added: “It sounds like [US Secretary of State] Marco Rubio has orchestrated a very impressive takedown.”Mr Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who fled the island after Fidel Castro seized power, said in January that regime change would be a “great benefit” to the US.The President has long relied on support from Cuban exiles in Florida, many of whom have campaigned for the overthrow of the island’s communist regime.Havana has ramped up anti-imperialist rhetoric and intensified military exercises across the country following the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro by US forces. A recent staff meeting at the US Embassy in Havana laid bare the severity of rising US-Cuba tensions, now at levels unseen since the 1960s.US Charge d’Affaires Mike Hammer is said to have told American diplomats: “If you don’t have your bag packed yet, then pack your bag,” a source present at the meeting told CNN.“The Cubans have complained for years about ‘the blockade’, but now there is going to be a real blockade.“Nothing is getting in. No more oil is coming.”Our Standards:
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