Cuba in Trump’s sights after Iran, president hints at sending warships
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with President Donald Trump. File photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump has hinted at sending American warships off the coast of Cuba after the war with Iran ends. At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Cuban citizens to step forward for political change. He has also called on Cubans to secretly cooperate with the US intelligence agency CIA.
Responding to a question about Cuba at a campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, on Friday local time, Trump said a US warship could stop near Cuba on its way back from Iran. He also remarked that a warship would stop about 50 yards off the Cuban coast and that the Cuban side would surrender. Trump said Rubio would then be sent to finalize the deal.
Following Trump's remarks, Rubio wrote on social media that now was the time for those who wanted “positive change” in Cuba to act. Citing corruption, unfulfilled promises and privileges enjoyed by a small group, he urged Cubans to bring about change through a “covert partnership” with the CIA.
However, he did not explain how such cooperation would bring about political change. Havana has already responded. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said the United States was now openly recruiting people for the CIA.
He mocked the agency, saying it was marketing its services “like toothpaste.” The CIA later published instructions in Spanish explaining how potential informants could contact the agency.
The United States and Cuba have been at odds for decades.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated after the 1959 revolution. The failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the trade embargo imposed in 1962 prolonged the dispute.
In recent times, Cuba has faced growing shortages of fuel and food along with power outages and rising inflation. Millions of people have left the country.
Meanwhile, officials from the two countries have held discussions. Trump had previously spoken about the possibility of reaching a deal without military action. However, in his latest remarks, Trump has once again raised the possibility of military intervention in Cuba.
Source: AP (Adapted)
