Donald Trump has spoken on the developing economic crisis on the island of Cuba. He has warned that a change of government in Cuba could result from a friendly or unfriendly takeover. He described the situation in Cuba as the country running on fumes after being dependent on aid from Venezuela. This comment shows a significant change in the United States’ foreign policy towards the Caribbean.
Earlier this year, the U.S. military removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. As a result, his successor in Venezuela has begun cooperating with the U.S. and has ceased the fuel shipments to Cuba. This places Cuba in a dire situation, as they are undergoing a major humanitarian and energy crisis. Based on Trump’s comments, a change of government in Cuba is inevitable, as the regime has little to no resources to sustain itself.
Marco Rubio Talks Possible Deals With Havana
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently dealing with the Cuban leadership in order to avoid military confrontation. These potential deals revolve around the construction of ports, energy, and tourism. While the island is facing a humanitarian crisis with ongoing blackouts and a food crisis, Rubio is attempting to find a diplomatic solution. The U.S. wants to ensure regional stability during this transition.
The White House has hinted at an “off-ramp” deal for Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. If Díaz-Canel were to cooperate with this arrangement, the current leaders, including the Castro family, would be able to stay on the island. However, Trump says there will be regime change in Cuba one way or another. He noted the United States would be willing to take action before a deal is made.
The Monroe Doctrine is Alive in the Americas
Trump’s approach to Cuba and Venezuela is in line with the revitalization of the Monroe Doctrine. The 19th CENTURY DON’T TRADE nationalism states that the Americas should be an area of American influence. Since the Cold War, Obama has been the only one to completely not pursue an overthrow in Havana. He sees it as a necessity for the United States to keep Cuba and Venezuela under its influence.
Cuba has officially denied the reports of high-level negotiations with Washington. However, they have not denied the rumors of “informal talks” with the grandson of Raúl Castro. The U.S. administration believes the Cuban government is close to falling apart and the current energy crisis, to them, is the most appropriate time to effect a change.
Humanitarian Concerns and the Future of the Island
Critics claim that an “unfriendly takeover” may create even greater hardships for the Cuban people. The decreasing availability of fuel has led to the monitoring of the situation by various international agencies. If an economy collapses entirely, there will be serious repercussions and a massive increase in the number of refugees in the region. Most experts believe that the next few weeks will be decisive for the future of the country.
As Trump says regime change in Cuba is a top priority, the world watches the diplomatic moves in Florida and Havana. The President insists that his administration is set to “make a deal” or take control quite easily. Regardless of the nature of the takeover, the era of the current Cuban government seems to be coming to an end. The U.S. continues to focus on restructuring the geopolitics of the Americas.
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