At a Latin American summit held in Florida last week, US President Donald Trump announced that he sees Cuba as potentially the next focus of American intervention, following ongoing tensions with Iran. Trump characterized the Cuban government as being on the verge of a collapse, stating that the country is experiencing its final moments. He attributed this to a lack of resources, asserting that the island is facing severe economic hardships with insufficient money, oil, and a 'bad philosophy' of governance that has persisted for a long time.

Trump's comments reflect a significant escalation in rhetoric regarding Cuba, especially as he emphasized the ease of potentially making an agreement with the country. For decades, Cuba has been viewed through the lens of American foreign policy as a problematic regime, particularly since the 1959 Cuban Revolution. The implications of Trump's remarks also suggest a continuation of the US's recent history of imposing economic sanctions and military pressures as seen with Venezuela, from where the US has instituted an oil blockade that has exacerbated the economic struggles of both countries.

The situation in Cuba is further strained by the energy crisis; the island nation had substantial power outages, lasting up to 16 hours, primarily due to the effects of the US blockade. The rhetoric emphasizes a critical moment for Cuba, where internal conditions are combined with external pressures from the US, raising concerns about how the situation may evolve in the coming months as the Trump administration continues to focus on reshaping its approach towards both Cuba and Iran.