Le président américain Donald Trump said on Monday that Cuba was going through a serious humanitarian and economic crisis, raising the possibility of a "friendly takeover" of the island, while remaining vague about what he meant by that phrase.
Speaking to reporters in Doral, Florida, Donald Trump stated that the Cuban situation was currently being monitored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "He's managing the situation, and it could be a friendly takeover, or not. It wouldn't really matter, because they're really on the ropes," he said.
The US president stated that the country was in a critical economic situation, asserting that Cuba lacked energy and financial resources. He suggested that the current crisis could pave the way for a major political shift on the island.
These remarks come as Cuba has been facing a deep economic crisis for several years, marked by shortages of electricity, fuel and basic necessities, as well as high inflation.
Donald Trump's statements immediately raised questions about Washington's true intentions and the meaning of this potential "takeover." Cuban authorities did not immediately respond in detail to the US president's remarks.
The relationship between the United States and Cuba has historically been marked by strong tensions, despite several attempts at diplomatic rapprochement in recent decades. The remarks by the American president could reignite these tensions in an already sensitive regional context.
