President Donald Trump and several Republican lawmakers say the communist government in Cuba could face major political change as Washington intensifies pressure on the island.
A major power blackout across western Cuba this week highlighted the country’s deepening energy crisis, which analysts say has worsened under a U.S. fuel blockade imposed by the Trump administration.
Some experts warn Cuba could run out of fuel reserves by mid- to late March, potentially bringing large parts of the country’s economy to a halt.
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump suggested Cuban leaders are eager to negotiate with Washington. “They want to make a deal so badly, you have no idea,” he said, adding that major changes could happen within weeks.
Trump has tasked Secretary of State Marco Rubio with leading discussions with Cuban officials. Reports indicate Rubio has been holding talks with Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, whose influence over the country’s military remains a key source of power.
Some analysts say the Trump administration may be exploring options for a political transition in Cuba that could include economic reforms, cooperation on U.S. regional priorities and reduced ties with rivals such as Russia and China.
Republican lawmakers have been more direct in calling for regime change. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Fox News that “Cuba’s next, they’re gonna fall, this communist dictatorship in Cuba, their days are numbered.”
Trump, however, suggested that other conflicts may take priority before Washington fully turns its attention to Cuba. “We could do them all at the same time but bad things happen… you do them all too fast, bad things happen,” he said.
Cuba’s President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently announced urgent economic reforms, but U.S. officials say the measures fall far short of what Washington believes is needed to fix the country’s struggling economy. Analysts note that Cuba is also increasingly isolated diplomatically across Latin America, which could add pressure on its leadership in the coming months.
