Trump Says Cuba ‘Will Fall Soon’ Amid US Pressure
Donald Trump has said the government of Cuba could collapse soon, renewing pressure on the communist-ruled island which is already facing a tightening energy blockade from the United States.
Speaking in an interview with CNN on Friday, Trump said Cuba was eager to reach an agreement with Washington and predicted that the country’s leadership would soon give way.
“They want to make a deal so badly,” Trump said, adding that he believed the situation in Cuba had reached a turning point after decades of strained relations with the United States.
The US leader said the issue would be handled by his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who is the son of Cuban immigrants and has long taken a hard stance against the government in Havana.
Trump also suggested that Washington could turn greater attention to Cuba once its current focus on the conflict involving Iran is resolved.
The remarks come as Cuba grapples with mounting economic pressure linked to the US energy blockade. The situation has worsened after the United States captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whose country had been a major supplier of oil to the island.
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Since January 9, Cuba has reportedly received no imported oil, forcing airlines to reduce flights to the country and intensifying an already severe economic crisis.
Authorities in Havana have accused Washington of deliberately trying to weaken the country’s economy.
Cuba has been under a US trade embargo since 1962, and the island has in recent years faced prolonged power outages and widespread shortages of fuel, medicine and food as the economic situation continues to deteriorate.
