Donald Trump says US could launch a Venezuela‑style operation against Cuba

In an interview with Axios, President Donald Trump said a U.S. military action in Cuba is "possible" and could resemble the rapid raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. He highlighted Cuba’s close proximity to the United States, noting that the island is "a hop" compared with the long‑haul flight to Iran, and contrasted Venezuela’s oil wealth with Cuba’s lack of it. Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio is "very involved" in the Cuba policy and described a potential U.S. approach as a "friendly takeover" or a flexible, contingency‑driven plan.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla responded by accusing the United States of “collective punishment” and denied any U.S. moral, legal or political authority to judge Cuba’s reforms. He condemned what he called a total fuel blockade, sanctions on the state oil company CUPET and restrictions on technology and tourism, calling the measures a “total blockade” that threatens Cuba’s energy security. Rodríguez reiterated Cuba’s sovereignty and rejected U.S. interference in internal affairs.