Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of former President Donald Trump in foreign affairs, expressed his satisfaction over the capture of Nicolás Maduro and issued a stark warning to the Cuban regime, stating, "their days are numbered."
Graham made these remarks aboard Air Force One during a press interaction where Trump also hinted that "Cuba is ready to fall."
Visibly elated, Graham remarked, "Just wait and see what happens with Cuba. It's a communist dictatorship that has murdered priests and nuns and preyed upon its own people. Its days are numbered. One day, hopefully by 2026, we will wake up to find allies in our neighborhood doing business with the United States, instead of dealing with narco-terrorists and dictators who kill Americans."
The South Carolina senator praised the military operation that led to Maduro's capture as a “historic day,” emphasizing that "everyone is now thinking differently than they did just a few days ago because of what you accomplished."
At 70, Graham is one of the most influential voices from the hardline faction of the Republican Party on national security issues. As the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and an Air Force veteran, he has consistently advocated for a confrontational approach toward Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran.
Back in 2019, Graham was among the first to publicly suggest a "surgical" intervention against the Maduro regime, insisting that the United States should "accelerate the end of the Venezuelan narco-state."
Since then, he has maintained a firm stance against Cuba, describing it as "the head of the snake," referring to the axis of left-wing authoritarian regimes in Latin America.
“Cuba is not a victim; it’s the source. Every dictator in our hemisphere traces their support back to Havana,” he stated in July 2021, following the 11J protests, holding the Cuban government accountable for exporting repression and supporting allied dictatorships like those in Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Graham's comments echoed Trump's earlier statements, where the president claimed that "Cuba has no income and is ready to fall" following the capture of its main economic ally.
In Washington, the alignment between these two Republican leaders strengthens the perception that the White House is gearing up for a strategic shift regarding Cuba, focusing on hastening the regime's collapse through economic suffocation and political isolation.
"This is a great day," Graham concluded. "And the whole world knows it."
Cuba’s Political Future: Insights and Implications
What did Lindsey Graham say about Cuba's future?
Lindsey Graham predicted that the days of the Cuban regime are numbered and emphasized that Cuba is a communist dictatorship that has oppressed its own people.
How did Graham describe the operation that captured Nicolás Maduro?
Graham described the military operation leading to Maduro's capture as a “historic day” and noted that it has changed global perspectives.
What has been Lindsey Graham's stance on Cuba over the years?
Graham has consistently supported a confrontational approach towards Cuba, viewing it as the central force behind left-wing authoritarian regimes in Latin America.