Trump calls on Cuba to surrender: “Negotiate before it is too late”

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump issued strong warnings to the Cuban regime, calling on it to negotiate “before it is too late,” following the US military operation in Venezuela that led to the arrest of Nicolas Maduro.

In a series of blog posts on his “Truth Social” platform, Trump directed his anger at Havana, announcing that the lifeline to the besieged island had been cut off, saying: “No more oil or money.” These threats come at a time when Trump expects that Cuba is “ready to fall” after the collapse of its ally, Venezuela.

Crackdown on Havana

A report by Axios indicated that the US strike in Venezuela put Cuba – which is already suffering from a faltering economy – in a very critical position, especially after 32 of its soldiers were killed during the operation, according to the Associated Press. “Venezuela no longer needs protection from the thugs and blackmailers who held it hostage,” Trump wrote, adding that the United States was now protecting Caracas, advising Cuba to conclude a deal immediately.

Tips for changing the system

Although Trump indicated to reporters on Air Force One that he “does not believe there is a need for military action” against Cuba given its imminent collapse, his tone on social media was sharper. He retweeted “Marco Rubio will be president of Cuba,” commenting on it with, “Sounds good to me!” He also shared a composite photo of himself smoking a cigar in front of the Cuban flag.

For his part, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented after the Caracas operation, saying: “If I had lived in Havana, and been in the government, I would have been worried.”

Cuban reactions On the other hand, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez categorically denied that his country provided security services in exchange for money, describing the United States as a “criminal and out-of-control hegemonic power that threatens security and peace,” stressing that “right and justice are on Cuba’s side.”