The Trump administration is ramping up its pressure campaign against Cuba, seeking to destabilize the Cuban government. This surge in action was marked by the Justice Department’s unsealing of an indictment against Raúl Castro, Cuba’s former president, and five others, charging them with murder and conspiring to kill U.S. citizens.
President Trump has consistently shown interest in expanding U.S. territory. His administration has seen successful military operations in Venezuela, yet attempts to acquire Greenland or the Panama Canal remain unfulfilled. Now, Trump has cast his sights on Cuba. His interest in the island nation dates back years.
In 2011 and 2012, Trump Organization executives visited Cuba, evaluating potential golf course locations. Even in 2016, as a presidential candidate, Trump saw Cuba as a promising investment opportunity. Despite recent criticisms labeling Cuba a ‘failed nation,’ Trump continues to praise its strategic location.
In March, Trump remarked, ‘I think Cuba, in its own way, tourism and everything else, it’s a beautiful island, great weather.’ Following the indictment announcement against Castro, Trump expressed a desire to avoid escalating tensions with Cuba. Speaking to reporters, he stated, ‘No, there won’t be escalation. I don’t think there needs to be.’ He described the situation in Cuba as chaotic, ‘The place is falling apart, it’s a mess. They’ve really lost control.’
Tyler Pager from The New York Times covers the White House and President Trump’s administration extensively.
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