President Donald Trump has said he would “certainly consider” using military force against Cuba, adding that he wants to “get Cuba done” before his term ends in 2029. Politico reported that the remarks, made in a phone interview Thursday with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, mark the first time Trump has put a timeline on a possible military operation against the island nation. Trump described Cuba as “essentially a failed … place” and said Secretary of State Marco Rubio “would love to do it”.
The comments come amid Trump’s pressure campaign against the Cuban government. Earlier this week, Trump said Cuba “will fall fairly soon” and that the US would help it “on a humanitarian basis”. In March, he said he believed he would have “the honour of taking Cuba” as the island’s power grid collapsed.
In January, Trump imposed a de facto oil blockade on Cuba after the US seized Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and cut off Venezuelan oil to the island. An executive order declared Cuba an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the US. The blockade has caused repeated nationwide blackouts, fuel and food shortages, and a humanitarian crisis. Cuban officials have called it “collective punishment”.
Washington has added sanctions targeting Cuba’s state oil company, President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and relatives of former President Raul Castro, and announced a fresh round this month against 10 people and entities linked to the government, military and oil industry. The US has also issued an arrest warrant for Castro.
While officials from both sides have held talks on the blockade, Cuba’s foreign minister said in June there had been “no progress”. In March, the head of the US Southern Command told senators that US troops were not rehearsing for an invasion. Cuban officials have said the island is ready for any attack.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A US president publicly considering military force against a sovereign nation represents a major foreign policy shift with significant geopolitical consequences.
- The intensified economic blockade is deepening a severe humanitarian crisis in Cuba, causing widespread blackouts and shortages.
- The explicit timeline, linked to the remainder of Trump’s term, sets the stage for an extended confrontation.
Background
The US has maintained an economic embargo against Cuba since the 1960s. Tensions have escalated sharply in recent months following the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the severing of Venezuelan oil supplies to the island in January, which crippled Cuba’s energy sector.
Key Perspectives
Donald Trump: Argues Cuba is a failed state and frames potential US action as a humanitarian intervention for Cuban Americans, tying it to his political support among the Cuban community in Florida. He has put a timeline on the operation, aiming to complete it before his term ends in 2029.
Cuban officials: Denounce the US campaign as “collective punishment” that has manufactured a humanitarian crisis. They report no progress in diplomatic talks and state that the island is prepared to defend itself against any military action.
What to Watch
- Whether the US follows through on its military threats or pursues further economic sanctions.
- The outcome of any further diplomatic talks, which Cuba’s foreign minister has said made “no progress”.
- Cuba’s stated readiness for any attack and how it might respond to further pressure.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTrump said he would “certainly consider” using military force against Cuba.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Donald Trump has said he would “certainly consider” using military force against Cuba”
- SupportedTrump said he wants to “get Cuba done” before leaving office in 2029.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: ““I want to get Cuba done before I leave,” he said”
- SupportedPolitico reported this was the first time Trump had put a timeline on a possible operation.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Politico reported that it was the first time Trump had put a timeline on a possible operation.”
- SupportedTrump made the remarks in a Thursday phone interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In a phone interview on Thursday with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, of Salem News Channel”
- SupportedTrump described Cuba as “essentially a failed … place”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Trump called the island “essentially a failed … place, nation, whatever you wanna call it”.”
- SupportedTrump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio “would love to do it”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents are from Cuba, “would love to do it”.”
- SupportedOn Monday, Trump said Cuba “will fall fairly soon” and the US would help it “on a humanitarian basis”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “On Monday, he said Cuba “will fall fairly soon” and that the US would help it “on a humanitarian basis”.”
- SupportedIn March, Trump said he believed he would have “the honour of taking Cuba” as the island’s power grid collapsed.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In March, he said he believed he would have “the honour of taking Cuba”, making the remarks as the island’s power grid collapsed .”
- SupportedTrump put Cuba under a de facto oil blockade in January after the US seized Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and cut off Venezuelan oil to Cuba.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Trump put Cuba under a de facto oil blockade in January, after the US seized Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and cut off Venezuelan oil to the island.”
- SupportedThe blockade has caused repeated nationwide blackouts, fuel and food shortages, and a humanitarian crisis.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The blockade has caused repeated nationwide blackouts, fuel and food shortages, and a humanitarian crisis.”
- SupportedCuban officials have called the blockade “collective punishment”.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Cuban officials have called it “collective punishment”.”
- SupportedWashington announced a new round of sanctions this month targeting 10 people and entities tied to Cuba’s government, military and oil industry.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “announced a new round this month targeting 10 people and entities tied to the government, military and oil industry.”