Trump: We Might Have ‘Friendly Takeover’ of Cuba
Donald Trump on Friday floated the idea of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, saying the two nations are engaged in discussions and that the island’s government is facing severe economic strain.
“The Cuban government is talking with us,” Trump said. “They’re in a big deal of trouble. They have no money right now. Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba.”
The president did not explain how such a move would work or what it would involve. His comments were first reported by The Hill.
Trump’s remarks come about a month after the United States cut off Cuba’s oil supply from Venezuela, increasing pressure on the communist-led Government of Cuba. The move has contributed to growing economic hardship on the island.
This week, a senior official from the United Nations warned that daily life in Cuba is “becoming fragile,” citing mounting strain on health care, water, and food supplies.
The president’s comments also followed a deadly incident involving the Cuban Coast Guard, which killed four men approaching the island by boat in what authorities in Havana described as a planned terror attack. Two of those killed were U.S. citizens, according to Politico.
Behind the scenes, U.S. officials reportedly met Thursday with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro.
On Friday, Trump said he has heard from Cuban exiles living in the United States who support his approach. “We have people living here that want to go back to Cuba,” he said. “They’re very happy with what’s going on.”
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