Trump Suggests 'Friendly Takeover' of Cuba After Talks
Trump said on Feb. 27 the U.S. is in talks with Havana and raised a 'friendly takeover' possibility amid a U.S. fuel blockade and after the capture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro.
Overview
On Feb. 27, President Donald Trump said the U.S. is in talks with Havana and raised the possibility of a "friendly takeover of Cuba."
The administration tightened pressure after U.S. forces captured Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3 and after Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba were cut, officials said.
Cuba reported a shootout involving a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cubans that left four dead and six injured, and U.S. Homeland Security and the Coast Guard are investigating, officials said.
U.S. measures include a fuel blockade, an executive order threatening tariffs issued Jan. 29, and a Treasury plan to implement a favorable licensing policy for resale of Venezuelan oil.
More than 40 U.S. civil society organizations sent a letter to Congress urging reversal of the administration's Cuba policy, and the administration announced $6 million in humanitarian aid earlier in February.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as cautious and critical by highlighting the vagueness of Trump’s “friendly takeover” remark while foregrounding historical context (the embargo, recent Venezuela developments), Cuban official reaction, and civil-society warnings about humanitarian harm. Editorial choices emphasize uncertainty and potential consequences over administration rationale.
Sources (11)
FAQ
Trump did not clarify the term but suggested it as a possibility amid U.S. talks with Cuban leaders, noting Cuba's desperate economic situation with 'no money' and 'no anything,' and describing it as a 'failed nation' seeking U.S. help.
A Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cubans from the U.S. opened fire on Cuban soldiers off the island's north coast, resulting in four armed Cubans killed, six injured, and one Cuban official injured; U.S. Homeland Security and Coast Guard are investigating.
Measures include a fuel blockade by cutting Venezuelan oil shipments, an Executive Order on January 29 declaring a national emergency to impose tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba, and a Treasury plan for favorable licensing on Venezuelan oil resale.
Yes, after U.S. forces captured Maduro on January 3, Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba were cut, tightening pressure on Cuba as part of broader U.S. actions against hostile regimes.
More than 40 U.S. civil society organizations, including churches, sent a letter to Congress urging reversal of the policy, warning of a humanitarian crisis, while the administration announced $6 million in humanitarian aid in February.
History
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