Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has once again focused on Cuba, implying that the island must reach an agreement with Washington or risk dire economic repercussions. Speaking on Sunday, Trump threatened to cut off Venezuela’s financial and oil supplies to Cuba.
“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO,” he stated on his Truth Social platform. I strongly advise them to reach an agreement before it’s too late.
Trump said that Cuba’s government was about to fall apart in the absence of Venezuelan assistance. He had earlier stated, “I don’t think we need [to take] any action,” adding that “Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall” in the absence of Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela’s oil supplies.
Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, went so far as to say that Washington might not be content to do nothing.
Rubio stated, “I’m not going to talk to you about what our future steps are going to be,” on Meet the Press on NBC. He continued, “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned.”
Later, Trump said, “Sounds good to me!” after reposting a message that suggested Rubio might one day run Cuba.
Why the Operation in Venezuela Modified the Equation
Following the US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, there is a fresh attention on Cuba. Washington struck Havana where it hurts the most this time.
Cuba has relied on Venezuelan oil for years to sustain its economy, trading security and medical staff in exchange. Cuba is currently experiencing a severe energy crisis as a result of Maduro’s removal and Trump’s pressure on interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez to reroute oil supplies to the US.For many years, Cuba relied heavily on money and oil from Venezuela, according to Trump.
Both Trump and Rubio have stated unequivocally that they view the weakening of Cuba’s regime as a possible outcome they would welcome rather than merely a consequence of Maduro’s overthrow.
Why This Is Personal to Rubio
Marco Rubio is deeply affected by the prospect of Cuba’s regime crumbling. Three years prior to Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, his parents left Cuba. Early in his political career in Florida, Rubio established himself as a rival of Castro, whom he famously referred to as “an evil, murderous dictator.” It would be the accomplishment of a lifetime political goal to witness the overthrow of the Cuban government.
Washington has already attempted to undermine Cuba by focusing on its supporters. Trump and Rubio supported an effort to overthrow Maduro in Venezuela in 2019. In April of that year, such endeavor failed.
Former national security adviser John R. Bolton claims in his memoir that Maduro was alerted to the plot by Cuban intelligence. He was assisted in foiling the plot by Cuban agents within Venezuela, and a jet was apparently prepared to transport Maduro to Havana if necessary.
Cuba has been isolated for decades since the fall of the Soviet Union. It is considerably less reliant on Venezuela than it was ten years ago and still receives backing from China and Russia.
A Prolonged History of Regime Change Failures
Trump did not start US efforts to overthrow Cuba’s government. Hundreds of attempts, from full-scale invasions to clandestine murder plans, were made to remove former Cuban President Fidel Castro, according to Cuban intelligence and declassified US papers.
Invasion of the Bay of Pigs (1961)
A group of Cuban exiles was trained and financed by the CIA to invade the island and spearhead an insurrection. Within three days, the operation failed.
The 1961–1962 Operation Mongoose
President John F. Kennedy approved a clandestine campaign of psychological warfare, economic sabotage, and covert action aimed at toppling the government following the Bay of Pigs.
Certain CIA ideas were on the verge of being strange, according to declassified records:
The Exploding Cigar: A cigar that has been set up to explode.
Poisoned Milkshake: Castro’s milkshake at the Havana Libre hotel was supposed to contain a poison pill.
A contaminated breathing apparatus and a wetsuit packed with tuberculosis bacteria are examples of poisoned diving suits.
Explosive Seashell: Where Castro enjoyed diving, a vibrantly colored shell was set up to blow up.
The Ex-Lover Plot: He was ordered to poison his ex-lover. According to reports, Castro gave her a gun and instructed her to shoot him. She declined.
Character Assassination: Plans to make his beard fall out, among other attempts to degrade him.
Many of these plans were never implemented because they were deemed too hazardous or unrealistic.
In an effort to exert economic pressure, the US has placed a trade blockade on Cuba since 1962.
Castro Was Targeted How Many Times?
Official US Count
Eight CIA plans to kill Castro between 1960 and 1965 were confirmed by the Church Committee in 1975.
Cuban Intelligence Allegation
Former Cuban counterintelligence chief Fabian Escalante alleged 638 attempts, claiming that 184 of them occurred during the Nixon administration alone.
Cuba’s leadership has persevered in the face of decades of pressure, embargoes, secret operations, and diplomatic isolation. Even if Washington now perceives Maduro’s downfall as a chance, there is an underlying realization that significant change will necessitate ongoing political, economic, and potentially military engagement.
