Trump's next target is Cuba

After the steps taken against Iran, US President Donald Trump has turned his next attention to Cuba, which is facing a severe crisis. Speaking a day after a massive 24-hour power outage was reported across Cuba, the President stated that Cuba is the next target of his administration, and that a change there is merely a matter of time.

A further report on this has been published by the BBC website.

During a meeting with Jorge Mas, the Cuban-born owner of Inter Miami football club, and players including Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Trump stated that Cuban authorities are keen to reach an agreement, and therefore a positive celebration regarding Cuba could take place soon. Additionally, speaking with CNN, the President further emphasized that Cuba would collapse very soon, and although the main focus is currently on Iran, Cuba has been ready for this for fifty years. He also hinted at direct talks with Cuba through his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

Earlier this year, on January 3rd, with the ousting of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, Cuba lost its main crude oil supply, following a series of unexpected events in the American region. Due to the influence of the Trump administration, no other energy partner like Mexico has been able to fill this gap. As a result, a massive fuel crisis has emerged across Cuba, and the disruption of garbage collection has led to piles of trash on the streets, posing a public health risk. Some people have resorted to burning this trash at night, and in some areas of the capital Havana, people are accustomed to cooking with wood stoves during power outages.

The lack of sufficient fuel for both vehicle operation and generator use is a major problem. In Cuba, which has an old power grid built during the Soviet era, only a very small number of people use solar panels, so the crude oil shortage has directly impacted household electricity consumption. Critics point out that Trump and Rubio are attempting to weaken Cuba at the negotiating table or incite an internal rebellion by exerting severe pressure against the country. However, it is not the leaders but the ordinary Cuban people who are most affected by this.

However, the Cuban government has not yet officially confirmed that discussions are taking place between the American administration and the Cuban high leadership. Reports indicate that Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, a grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro, is involved in these secret talks. Meanwhile, with the aim of providing some relief to the ongoing crisis, the government has allowed the private sector to import fuel for their businesses, but as this only accounts for a very small percentage of the overall need, the public remains highly skeptical.

Currently, due to the fuel shortage, aircraft are unable to refuel in Havana, severely impacting Cuba's main economic driver, the tourism industry, and Air France has also suspended its flights to Cuba. Although Cuba currently has a somewhat cool climate, allowing people to barely get through the night without electricity, many are deeply concerned about how they will live without air conditioning or fans during the upcoming hot summer.