U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is engaged in high-level discussions with Cuban officials, and he floated the idea of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba.
Speaking to reporters as he left the White House, Trump described Cuba as being in serious economic distress, lacking money, oil, and food, and said Havana is “talking with us.” He suggested that under these circumstances the U.S. might end up implementing a friendly takeover, though he did not explain what that would involve.
Trump’s comments come amid rising tensions with Cuba and increasing pressure from U.S. policy, including sanctions and a halt to Venezuelan oil imports that previously helped support the Cuban economy. Cuba has denied that formal high-level negotiations with Washington are underway, while not entirely rejecting reports of informal contacts.
The president implied that changes could benefit Cuban exiles in the United States who want reforms in their homeland, but gave few concrete details.