President Donald Trump on Friday raised eyebrows with a bold suggestion that the United States could carry out what he described as a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, as his administration intensifies pressure on the island’s communist government through a sweeping fuel blockade.
Speaking to reporters, Trump made clear that the regime in Havana is feeling the strain.
“The Cuban government is talking with us. They’re in a big deal of trouble, as you know. They have no money, no anything right now,” Trump said. “Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba.”
The president’s comments come as the administration’s fuel blockade, imposed by executive order at the end of January, tightens the screws on the regime. The move is aimed at collapsing the government, which depends heavily on imported energy and food to sustain daily life on the island.
The impact is already being felt. The United Nations’ top official for Cuba warned Wednesday that daily life is “becoming fragile,” citing growing strains on health care, water services, and food distribution. The warning underscores the mounting pressure facing Havana as fuel supplies dwindle and essential services falter.
According to reports, the Cuban government has instituted emergency measures in response to the U.S. fuel quarantine and is believed to have only six to seven weeks of fuel remaining before facing a potential major blackout. Such a development would mark a significant escalation in the crisis, with far-reaching consequences for the island’s infrastructure and economy.
Behind the scenes, diplomatic contacts appear to be underway. U.S. officials reportedly met Thursday with Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of 94-year-old former president Raúl Castro, who is widely considered the de facto leader of the totalitarian regime. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a Caribbean conference attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rodriguez Castro serves as his grandfather’s bodyguard and is believed to oversee GAESA, the armed forces’ powerful conglomerate that controls much of Cuba’s economy. The Miami Herald reported that in 2024, GAESA held approximately $18 billion in assets, with funds in unknown bank accounts.
Trump’s remarks also follow a deadly confrontation Wednesday between the Cuban coast guard and a group of U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and visa holders. At least four people aboard a boat were killed, and others were wounded and taken into custody. Cuban authorities accused them of “terrorism” against the island.
Despite the deadly clash, both governments have issued statements that appear to cool tensions. Officials on both sides have emphasized cooperation in clarifying what the Cuban government described as “regrettable events.”
As the blockade tightens and diplomatic channels remain open, the president’s suggestion of a “friendly takeover” signals that the administration is willing to think big in its effort to confront the communist regime. Whether that rhetoric translates into a dramatic shift in U.S.-Cuba relations remains to be seen, but for now, Havana is clearly under increasing strain.
[READ MORE: Pakistan Declares “Open War” with Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan After Escalating Border Clashes]
