Cuba is next: Trump signals new focus after Iran, Venezuela

US President Donald Trump has suggested Cuba could be Washington’s next focus, citing recent military successes in Iran and Venezuela. Speaking at an investment forum in Miami, Trump said “Cuba is next,” while praising US operations abroad.

While Trump did not specify what he plans to do with Cuba, he has frequently said he believes the government in Havana, grappling with a severe economic crisis, is nearing collapse.

His administration has been in talks with Cuba’s leadership in recent weeks, even as Trump hinted that military action could be possible.

“I built this great military. I said, ‘You’ll never have to use it.’ But sometimes you have to use it. And Cuba is next, by the way,” Trump said, before adding, “But pretend I didn’t say that.”

Earlier this month, he described a potential US move as a “friendly takeover,” adding it “may not be.”

He also said he expects to have the “honour” of “taking Cuba in some form." Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he believes he could “free it” or “take it,” adding that he has the ability to do “anything” he wants with the island.

Despite the rhetoric, diplomatic channels remain open. US officials say talks are ongoing, with Trump indicating a deal is possible, though other options remain on the table.

The renewed focus on Cuba comes after a US-backed operation in Venezuela that led to the removal of President Nicols Maduro, cutting off a key source of oil for Havana. Venezuela had long supplied much of Cuba’s fuel, and the halt in shipments has worsened shortages and deepened the island’s economic crisis.

Cuban President Miguel Daz-Canel has acknowledged the talks with Washington, as Havana seeks to avoid confrontation even as pressure from the United States continues to mount. According to a report in the New York Times, removing Cuban President Miguel Daz-Canel is a key US objective in the talks, though the next steps are being left to Cuban authorities.

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