President Trump predicted Cuba’s communist regime doesn’t have much time left, according to a new interview published Thursday.
Talking to Politico, Mr. Trump touted the success of military efforts in Iran and hinted that Cuba would be the next government to collapse.
“People are loving what’s happening,” he said of the Iran war. “Cuba’s going to fall too.”
He pointed to the administration’s efforts in Venezuela. Cuba had established close ties with the socialist regime of former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. In January, U.S. troops stormed Venezuela, captured Mr. Maduro and brought him to America, where he is set to stand trial on drug charges.
“We cut off all oil, all money or we cut off everything coming in from Venezuela, which was the sole source. And they want to make a deal,” Mr. Trump said.
When asked if the U.S. was helping facilitate the Cuban government’s demise, Mr. Trump responded, “Well, what do you think?”
“For 50 years, that’s icing on the cake. Venezuela is doing fantastically. [Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez] is doing a fantastic job. The relationship with them is great.”
The president also confirmed that the U.S. is in touch with Cuba’s communist leadership as the island nation plunges into instability amid the capture of Mr. Maduro.
Cuba is struggling with dwindling oil reserves following the Venezuela attack. Last month, Cuba’s government implemented fuel-saving measures and warned that jet fuel wouldn’t be available at nine airports across the island until mid-March.
A blackout hit the western half of Cuba on Wednesday, leaving millions of people in Havana and elsewhere without power.
Cuba was already struggling with a crumbling electric grid.
“They need help. We are talking to Cuba,” Mr. Trump said, adding that U.S. pressure such as cutting off Venezuelan oil has hurt the island nation.
“Well, it’s because of my intervention, intervention that is happening,” Mr. Trump said. “Obviously, otherwise they wouldn’t have this problem. We cut off all oil, all money … everything coming in from Venezuela, which was the sole source.”
Last month, Mr. Trump said the U.S. could have a peaceful takeover of Cuba because the Caribbean country is on shaky ground.
“The Cuban government is talking with us because they are in a big deal of trouble, as you know. They have no money, they [have] nothing,” the president told reporters at the White House.
“Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba,” he said. “We could very well have a friendly takeover of Cuba.”
