Trump moots toppling Cuba authorities before leaving office
US President Donald Trump has said he would consider using military force to topple the Cuban government before he leaves office in 2029.
In a phone interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump said he wants to 'get Cuba done' before he leaves office. He called the island 'essentially a failed ... place, nation, whatever you wanna call it'.
Trump said he would 'certainly consider' using military force to 'free Cuba'. He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents are from Cuba, 'would love to do it'.
Politico reported that this is the first time Trump has put a specific timeline on a possible military operation.
Escalating pressure
Trump has repeatedly threatened to topple the Cuban authorities. On Monday, he said Cuba 'will fall fairly soon' and that the US would help it 'on a humanitarian basis'.
In January, the US put Cuba under a de facto oil blockade after seizing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and cutting off Venezuelan oil to the island. The blockade has caused nationwide blackouts, fuel and food shortages.
Washington has added sanctions, including on Cuba’s state oil company, President Miguel Diaz-Canel, and relatives of former President Raul Castro. A new round of sanctions was announced this month targeting 10 people and entities tied to the government, military and oil industry.
Cuban officials have called it 'collective punishment'.
Next steps
The US has also issued an arrest warrant for Castro. Officials from both sides have held talks on the blockade, but Cuba’s foreign minister said in June there had been 'no progress'.
In March, the head of US Southern Command told senators that US troops were not rehearsing for an invasion of Cuba. Cuban officials said the island was ready for any attack.
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