US President Donald Trump on Friday suggested the possibility of a “friendly takeover of Cuba,” though he did not explain what he meant by the term. His remarks came as tensions between Washington and Havana continue to rise. Speaking outside the White House before departing for Texas, Trump told reporters that secretary of state Marco Rubio is in “very high-level” discussions with Cuban officials. “The Cuban government is talking with us,” he said, adding that they “have no money, they have no anything right now … maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba.” Trump emphasized that such an outcome was a “real possibility.”
Although he did not elaborate, Trump appeared to imply that conditions in Cuba — a communist-led island nation long at odds with the US — might be reaching a “turning point.” His comments followed a report from Cuban authorities that a Florida-registered speedboat carrying armed Cuban nationals from the United States engaged in a confrontation with Cuban military forces off the island’s northern coast. According to Havana, four of those on board were killed and six were wounded, and one Cuban official was injured in the incident. The clash has drawn additional attention as US officials, including Rubio, said they are investigating the circumstances of the shooting, with Homeland Security and the US Coast Guard involved. Rubio described the encounter as “highly unusual.” Cuba has been a focus of Trump’s foreign policy since early January, after US forces removed Nicolás Maduro — one of Havana’s closest allies — from power inVenezuela. Trump has suggested that Cuba’s economy, already weakened by the end of Venezuelan oil shipments, could collapse without direct U.S. intervention. Washington has maintained a strict trade embargo on Cuba since 1962, following the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. Despite this, Trump has indicated that talks with Cuban officials may be underway. Cuba’s government acknowledged communication with US counterparts after the recent shooting incident but has denied that formal high-level negotiations are taking place. Last month, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, a move that analysts say could deepen the island’s energy crisis. US authorities later clarified that Venezuelan oil shipments can still be sold to Cuban private-sector buyers in certain circumstances. Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, reiterated on social media that the U.S. fuel embargo remains in effect and continues to act as a form of “collective punishment,” saying recent developments do not change that reality.(With AP inputs)
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