Former U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Cuban nationals lost their lives while attempting to shield Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation that ultimately led to the capture of the Venezuelan leader and his wife, Cilia Flores.
"Did you know that many Cubans died last night? They were protecting Maduro. That wasn’t a smart move," Trump stated in an interview with The New York Post. However, he admitted he was uncertain about the exact number of casualties and did not specify if they were military personnel, advisors, or security staff sent from Cuba.
These remarks came following a surprise U.S. military operation executed overnight in Venezuela, involving over 150 aircraft, which resulted in a blackout in Caracas and the arrest of Maduro. The Venezuelan leader now faces federal narcotics charges in the United States. Trump assured that there were no American casualties, although one aircraft sustained damage.
During the interview, Trump also highlighted Cuba's role in sustaining the Venezuelan regime. "Cuba has always relied heavily on Venezuela. They got their money from there and protected Venezuela, but that didn’t work out too well this time," he said, emphasizing the strategic alliance that might have had dire consequences for Cuban citizens.
The president's comments have reignited concerns among many Cuban families about the deployment of personnel to high-risk international missions, often shrouded in secrecy, lacking official transparency, and in many cases, with no option to refuse participation.
So far, the Cuban government has neither confirmed nor denied Trump's assertions regarding casualties from the Island.
Trump ruled out direct military action against Cuba but issued a veiled warning. "Cuba will fall on its own. Things are not going well for Cuba," he remarked.
Earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that the Cuban government should be "at least a little worried," alluding to the new regional dynamics following Maduro's downfall.
As Venezuela enters a period of political uncertainty and international tension, Trump's statements place Cuba at the forefront of the debate, not only as an ally of the Maduro regime but also as a nation whose people, according to the former president, may have paid the ultimate price due to political decisions made beyond their control.
Impact of U.S. Operation on Cuba and Venezuela
What was the outcome of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela?
The operation resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and left Caracas without electricity. Maduro now faces federal narcotics charges in the United States.
How did Trump describe Cuba's involvement with Venezuela?
Trump suggested that Cuba heavily relied on Venezuela for financial support and that Cuban nationals were involved in protecting Maduro during the operation, which he deemed a strategic failure.
Has the Cuban government responded to Trump's claims?
As of now, the Cuban government has not confirmed or denied the claims made by Trump regarding Cuban casualties during the operation.