U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have issued new threats of military action against Cuba. During a press conference on May 21, Rubio asserted that Cuba has been a national security threat for years due to its ties with U.S. adversaries Russia and China. Trump also stated he could be the last president to act on the matter.
The Trump administration, led by Rubio, a Cuban American, has intensified pressure on the Communist-led island in a clear effort to spur regime change. The latest measure—a fuel blockade—has nearly collapsed Cuba's economy. Actions have accelerated in recent days, with the U.S. indicting former President Raul Castro and amassing military forces in the Caribbean Sea.
Dismissing suggestions of “nation-building,” Rubio stressed the issue is “national security.” He acknowledged a negotiated settlement is a “priority” for the U.S. but said the diplomatic path with Cuba is “not high.” “Their economic system does not work. It is broken and cannot be fixed with the current political system,” Rubio said. He warned that Cuba is accustomed to “buying time and waiting for us to give up,” but this time they “will not be able to do so.”
In response, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused Rubio of lying to incite a military attack that “would cause bloodshed among Cubans and Americans.”
Tensions have escalated significantly since Trump returned to the White House. The U.S. has imposed multiple sanctions, a fuel blockade, and increased military presence in the region. On May 20, the U.S. indicted former President Raul Castro over the 1996 shoot-down of two civilian aircraft. On May 21, Adys Lastres Morera, sister of a senior director at GAESA (a military-controlled conglomerate dominating Cuba's economy), was detained.
The U.S. military announced that several naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean on May 20 for joint exercises with Latin American partners. Meanwhile, Cuba once tentatively accepted $100 million in aid in exchange for reforms, but Rubio said it remains unclear whether the U.S. will accept Cuba's terms, as Washington insists on overcoming GAESA.
Analysts warn that Trump and Rubio are aiming for a scenario similar to the regime change in Venezuela, where President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were abducted in a military operation in January and taken to the U.S.
China and Russia have voiced opposition. China declared it “firmly supports” Cuba and urged the U.S. to de-escalate tensions and “stop threatening force.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed: “We believe that in no case should methods close to violence be used against former or current national leaders.”
