Donald Trump Suggests 'Friendly Takeover' of Cuba and Imposes Harsh Fuel Sanctions

Relations between Washington and Havana have entered a phase of the highest tension in decades, driven by the new strategy of the Donald Trump administration. The American president publicly suggested the concept of a 'friendly takeover' of the island, which is interpreted as an attempt to bring down the communist government through total economic isolation. A key element of this pressure became the blockade of fuel supplies, which led to a deep energy crisis and paralysis of public transport on the island. Spiegel Online and N-tv report an almost complete lack of gasoline, paralyzing public transport and logistics across the country. Trump, supported by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appears to be aiming to replicate the Venezuelan model, which involves supporting internal opposition while simultaneously cutting off the regime from sources of income. The situation was further aggravated by a bloody incident at sea, in which the Cuban border guard intercepted a speedboat coming from Florida. According to official statements from the government in Havana, an arsenal of weapons was found on board the vessel, including assault rifles, pistols, and a significant amount of ammunition and explosives. This incident caused consternation among the Cuban diaspora in Miami, which has long been divided between supporters of radical actions and those who fear the consequences of failed armed expeditions. Donald Trump, commenting on the situation from Mar-a-Lago, is shown in photographs in a special operations center, which the media compares to the legendary photo from the Obama administration during the operation against Osama bin Laden. This shows that the issue of Cuba has become an absolute national security priority for the current administration. US-Cuban relations have remained tense since the 1959 revolution. Despite a brief thaw during the presidency of Barack Obama, which led to the restoration of diplomatic relations in 2015, subsequent years brought a return to a policy of strict embargo. Simultaneously with actions towards Cuba, Donald Trump is making surprising moves on other diplomatic fronts. The US president spoke in very warm terms about Alexander Lukashenko, declaring 'great respect' for the leader of Belarus and a desire to build good relations with Minsk. These seemingly contradictory facets of foreign policy — a hard line towards Havana and a handshake towards Minsk — build a picture of Trump's new doctrine, based on transactionalism and personal relationships. Caribbean states, concerned about the escalation of conflict at their borders, have declared humanitarian support for the island's residents, trying to mitigate the effects of the American fuel blockade. In the background of these events, information emerges about new regulations concerning the private sale of oil to Cuba, which may constitute an attempt to create alternative distribution channels bypassing official state structures. The entirety of actions suggests that Washington is ready for any option to end the rule of the communist party in Havana, not excluding direct sovereignty over the island's territory. „Maybe there will be a friendly takeover of Cuba. We have to do it in a smart and decisive way.” — Donald Trump