Trump: US Will Deal With Cuba 'On the Way Back From Iran'; Rubio Urges CIA Contact
US President Donald Trump said the United States will deal with Cuba "on the way back from Iran," while Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans who want change to cooperate with the CIA, Reuters reports, citing Trump's speech at a rally in Florida and Rubio's post on X.
"We will deal with Cuba on the way back from Iran... and then we'll send Marco Rubio there to finish the job," Trump said.
Rubio's appeal
Rubio called on those disillusioned with the Cuban government to "take the opportunity to make the changes they want through confidential cooperation with the CIA," without going into further detail. "For those who want positive change in Cuba — now is the time," he wrote. Reuters notes that Rubio effectively oversees Cuba policy in the Trump administration, which has said before that its goal is to change the communist government in Havana.
Pressure on Havana
An oil blockade imposed by the US earlier this year has put Cuba in an extremely difficult position: the country suffers fuel shortages and power cuts made worse by decaying infrastructure. Washington has maintained its embargo on Cuba for more than 60 years, and increased pressure after US forces captured then-Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in January in an operation that involved casualties. Last month Cuba's foreign minister told the UN General Assembly that Cuba has always been open to dialogue with Washington. UN human rights experts condemned the oil blockade as a violation of international law, and rights groups said the Trump administration's threats resemble an imperialist approach. Last month Trump suggested that the US and Cuba could reach a deal, adding that he did not think military force would be needed.
Earlier statements
On 30 January Trump signed an order declaring a national emergency over Cuba, allowing tariffs on countries that supply it with oil. On 1 February Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez announced an "international emergency" over worsening relations with the US. In March Trump again hinted he could turn his attention to Cuba after Iran, saying he was confident they "want a deal" there, and at the end of February he spoke of a possible "friendly takeover" of Cuba.
For more on how sanctions have hit the island, see our report on Cuba's tourism collapse, and the history in US-Cuba relations.