President Donald Trump of the United States expressed skepticism about Cuba following in Venezuela's footsteps, although he noted that Washington could take similar steps if it chose to.
These remarks were made during a conversation with Trey Yingst, the chief correspondent of Fox News, at the White House.
"I look at Cuba. Many things are going to happen in Cuba over the next perhaps two months, but I don't see it being like Venezuela," Trump told Yingst in a clip shared on X by the reporter.
When Yingst inquired if Trump was hinting at possible military action against the island, the President did not dismiss the notion.
"Venezuela has vast amounts of oil. We could do that with Cuba. It wouldn't be hard for us to do it," he stated.
Trump clarified that, in his opinion, the distinction between the two nations lies not in the United States' ability to intervene but in Venezuela's strategic value due to its natural resources.
"Venezuela is much larger than Cuba, but it has the gold. It really has gold. It has a lot of gold, a lot of oil. It probably has the most valuable land in the world in terms of gold and rubies," he asserted.
Military Options Under Consideration
The President's comments come on the heels of revelations from CBS News that senior military officials at the Pentagon have been evaluating various scenarios for a potential operation against Cuba, including an air assault led by the 101st Airborne Division.
According to the report, the U.S. Army conducted a planning session in late June to consider possible actions that would involve deploying thousands of troops.
Interim Pentagon spokesman Joel Valdez refrained from commenting on the report, stating that the Department of Defense "does not comment on hypothetical military operations." However, officials cited by CBS clarified that an immediate intervention is deemed unlikely as a significant portion of U.S. military capabilities remain focused on the Middle East.
Increasing Pressure on Havana
Trump's statements occur amidst heightened pressure from Washington on the Cuban regime.
Recently, the U.S. administration has intensified sanctions against Havana, drastically cutting the oil supply to the island and maintaining the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Spear.
On July 14, Trump had already warned of swift action if the presence of Iranian Shahed-136 drones in Cuba were confirmed, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cuban leaders on July 11 to undertake "real reforms... before it's too late."
The President's remarks also coincide with a profound crisis on the island, marked by power outages, fuel shortages, and an escalating economic decline.
Understanding U.S. Stance on Cuba
What is the current U.S. policy towards Cuba?
The U.S. has recently intensified sanctions against Cuba, reduced oil supplies, and maintains military presence in the Caribbean, exerting significant pressure on the Cuban regime.
How does Trump perceive the situation in Cuba compared to Venezuela?
Trump believes that while Cuba may not follow Venezuela's path, the U.S. could take similar actions if necessary, although the strategic importance differs due to Venezuela's natural resources.
Is military intervention in Cuba likely?
While options are being considered, an immediate military intervention in Cuba is unlikely, as the U.S. military is largely focused on the Middle East.