Already mired in Iran, Trump admin pushes regime change in Cuba

Shortly after the US kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife on January 3, the Trump administration imposed a total oil embargo on Cuba, a longstanding ally of Venezuela’s leftist government. Since the US tightened its naval blockade, living conditions on the island have become desperate as their economy slowly grinds to a halt. Without fuel, Cuba cannot maintain its power grid, leaving most of the island’s 11 million inhabitants in darkness. Food shortages have also been widely reported and the country has also been starved of tourism, one of its major sources of income.

In late January, US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration aimed to achieve regime change by the end of the year in Cuba, which has been under Communist rule since the late 1950s. This week, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio made those desires explicit. Trump went so far tell reporters he believed he would have the “honor” of “taking Cuba in some form” and that “I can do anything I want” with the country. Trump made the comments despite ongoing negotiations with Cuban leadership.

Following Trump’s comments, Russia voiced its support for Cuba and its government. China and Russia have lent both diplomatic and material support to Cuba has the current crisis has unfolded.

With the war in Iran not going at all according to the US plan, it appears the Trump administration has refocused its efforts on Cuba. With the island severely weakened, it could present a much more winnable situation for US, whether that comes about through negotiation or even further military intervention.