Trump says Cuba could ‘fall soon’ as he eyes his next global conquest

Donald Trump has its next target: Cuba. He’s already told members of the media that he expects the island nation to fall soon, one way or another

At the same time, federal prosecutors are reportedly exploring the possibility of charging members of the Cuban government with crimes related to drugs or violence.

Cuba has been under heavy U.S. commercial, financial, and economic embargoes for decades, which has played a significant role in the country’s lack of economic growth throughout much of the 21st century.

But it’s a new dawn in Washington’s foreign policy posture. Trump has gone from branding himself the number one supporter of peace — even accepting María Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize — to launching military interventions that the White House has at times justified based on presidential “feelings.” Amid this chaos, however, Trump has not lost sight of Cuba. According to reports, the president recently said, “Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon. Cuba is gonna fall too. They want to make a deal so badly.”

Trump elaborated further, suggesting that negotiations could be handled by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “They want to make a deal, and so I’m going to put Marco over there, and we’ll see how that works out,” Trump said. According to NBC, the president added that the current war in Iran is the main reason discussions with Cuba have not yet moved forward. “We’re really focused on this one right now. We’ve got plenty of time, but Cuba’s ready — after 50 years.”

“Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon”

Part of the pressure facing Cuba is tied to events in neighboring Venezuela. A recent U.S.-led operation resulted in the capture and forceful extradition of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Venezuela had long provided Cuba with crucial oil shipments that helped keep the island’s fragile economy afloat. With Maduro gone and those energy supplies disrupted, Cuba’s economic situation has deteriorated further.

Should negotiations fail, the administration appears to have other options ready. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is reportedly leading a multi-agency effort to investigate potential crimes committed by members of the Cuban government, particularly related to drug trafficking or violent activity.

Rubio, who is himself of Cuban descent, has also weighed in on the matter, suggesting that change in Cuba should happen gradually. “Cuba needs to change,” Rubio said. “It needs to change, and it doesn’t have to change all at once. It doesn’t have to change from one day to the next… Everyone is mature and realistic.”

Some Cuban Americans, however, have made more specific demands regarding how the administration should approach the Cuban government. In 1996, planes belonging to the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue were shot down over the Florida Straits, killing four Cuban Americans who had been searching for refugees fleeing the island. In a letter to Congress, several Cuban American leaders have called for former Cuban president Raúl Castro — who they believe authorized the attack — to be indicted for his alleged role in the incident.