Trump says he might opt for “a friendly takeover of Cuba”

U.S. President Donald Trump, assured this Friday that his country could opt for a “friendly takeover of Cuba”, amid tensions with the island over the energy blockade imposed by Washington.

“They have nothing right now, but they are talking to us, and perhaps we will have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could end up with a friendly takeover of Cuba after many, many years”, he told the press at the White House before departing for Texas for a rally.

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The president assured that Cuba is in “serious problems” and that the United States could do something “very positive” for Cuban citizens in exile and those who still reside in the country. “Since I was little, I’ve heard about Cuba. Everyone wanted a change, and I can see that’s happening,” said Trump, who added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio “is handling it.” “As you know, they have no money, they have no oil, they have no food. And right now it’s a nation in serious trouble, and they want our help,” he declared.

His statements come in a context of strong tensions between Washington and Havana over the crude oil blockade of the island, and just days after the operation carried out by Cuba this week against a boat from Florida that allegedly violated its territorial waters and against which the authorities opened fire, causing the death of four crew members.

At least one of the four dead and one of the six injured on the ship were U.S. citizens, while the rest could be permanent legal residents. In January, after the operation in Venezuela in which President Nicolás Maduro, an ally of Havana, was captured, Cuba lost access to Venezuelan oil and Trump ordered the imposition of tariffs for countries that supply crude oil to the island, worsening the worst economic and social crisis the country has experienced since 1959. However, last Wednesday the United States Government relaxed the oil embargo imposed on Cuba and authorized the re-export of Venezuelan crude to the island, with certain restrictions and through the private sector.