Trump's Controversial Statements on Cuba: "A Failed State but No Change of Regime"
In controversial statements, U.S. President Donald Trump described Cuba as a "failed state," noting that the island is suffering from a lack of money, shipments, and almost everything else.
Trump added while returning to Washington aboard Air Force One:
"Cuba is now a failed state."
He urged Havana to reach an agreement with the United States, emphasizing that many Cuban Americans would be happy if they were allowed to travel to see their families, amid ongoing economic sanctions imposed on the island for decades.
* Trump's Position on Regime Change
When asked about the possibility of his country overthrowing the Cuban government as it did in Venezuela, the U.S. president replied: "I don't think that will be necessary," ruling out any direct intervention for regime change.
* The Humanitarian Crisis in Cuba
Trump pointed out that the fuel shortage in Cuba represents a "humanitarian threat," amid frequent power outages and a worsening crisis due to the tightening of the U.S. blockade and pressure on countries supplying Havana with oil, such as Venezuela and Mexico, to stop shipping fuel.
* Diplomatic Efforts
The U.S. president clarified that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently in talks with the Cuban side, in an attempt to find a way out of the crisis and open the door for a potential agreement between Washington and Havana.
It is worth noting that the United States has imposed a ban on Cuba since the 1960s, and the Trump administration has intensified it in recent months, including imposing sanctions on ships transporting oil and threatening suppliers with tariffs, leading Venezuela to stop supplying Cuba with oil in mid-December, followed by Mexico in a similar move.
