After Venezuela Takeover, Trump Says He Could ‘Free Or Take’ Cuba Amid Island’s Deepening Crisis

Last Updated:March 17, 2026, 07:39 IST

President Trump suggested taking control of Cuba, calling it an "honor." Amid a US oil embargo, Cuba faces a severe crisis. Trump aims to push for political change.

After the military takeover of Venezuela and an ongoing war with Iran, US President Donald Trump has now turned his attention to Cuba, suggesting Washington could move to take control of the island nation.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he believed he would have “the honor of taking Cuba," describing it as “a big honor."

“I do believe I’ll have the honor of taking Cuba. That would be good. That’s a big honor," Trump said. When asked what he meant, he added: “I can free it or take it, I think I can do anything I want with it."

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His remarks come amid rising tensions between Washington and Havana and a deepening economic crisis on the island.

Cuba plunged into darkness after the country’s electric grid suffered a total collapse on Monday, following weeks of a crippling oil embargo imposed by the United States.

The Caribbean island of 9.6 million people has been facing rolling power outages as the Communist government struggles with a shortage of fuel required to generate electricity. Miguel Díaz-Canel said last week that Cuba has not received a major fuel shipment for three months due to an embargo from United States.

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The administration of US President Donald Trump has been using economic pressure on Cuba in an effort to increase the country’s financial dependence on Washington and push for political change after 67 years of one-party rule.

“You know, all my life I’ve been hearing about the United States and Cuba. When will the United States do it?" Trump said at the briefing.

A report in The New York Times, citing sources, said the Trump administration is seeking to push the Cuban president from power.

The crisis began after the US ousted Cuba’s key ally, Nicolás Maduro, from power in Venezuela on January 3 this year. Since then, the island’s economy has been hit hard by an oil blockade.

Meanwhile, Trump has alleged that the fuel blockade is a response to what he described as an “extraordinary threat" posed by Cuba to the United States. He earlier said Cuba “wants to make a “deal", which could come quickly after his administration has finished the war against Iran.

“I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do," Trump told reporters.

News world After Venezuela Takeover, Trump Says He Could ‘Free Or Take’ Cuba Amid Island’s Deepening Crisis

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