President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that Cuba is "ready to fall" following the dramatic US operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized Havana's heavy dependence on subsidized Venezuelan oil, suggesting the regime may not survive without it. "I don’t think we need any action. It looks like it’s going down," he said. The remarks come amid escalating US involvement in Latin America and raise questions about the future stability of the Cuban government.
 |
| Source: Video Screenshot |
Trump's Comments and the Venezuela Operation
In a series of candid remarks on Air Force One, President Trump addressed the rapid developments in Venezuela. After US special forces successfully captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a high-risk overnight operation dubbed "Operation Absolute Resolve," Trump declared the United States is now effectively "in charge" of Venezuela until a stable transition can occur.
Turning to Cuba, a long-time ally of the Maduro regime, Trump said: “Cuba looks like it is ready to fall. I don’t know if they’re going to hold out, but Cuba now [without Venezuelan support]…” He played down the prospect of direct US military action in Havana, asserting that economic pressure alone could bring about change.
Latest Development: Cuba Reports Deaths in Venezuela Raid
The Cuba-Venezuela Alliance: An Economic Lifeline Under Threat
For decades, Cuba and Venezuela have maintained a close strategic partnership. Under agreements like Petrocaribe and more direct oil-for-services deals, Venezuela has supplied Cuba with heavily subsidized oil—estimated at up to 100,000 barrels per day in peak years—in exchange for Cuban doctors, teachers, intelligence support, and military advisors.
This arrangement has been critical for Cuba's economy, which has faced chronic energy shortages and US sanctions for over 60 years. With Venezuela's own oil industry crippled by years of mismanagement and sanctions, supplies to Cuba had already dwindled. The removal of Maduro could accelerate the cutoff, potentially triggering severe fuel shortages, blackouts, and broader economic hardship on the island.
Reactions and Potential Outcomes
Cuban officials have remained defiant, vowing to resist any external pressure and framing the Venezuela operation as imperialist aggression. International responses have been mixed: some Latin American nations have expressed concern over US unilateral action, while others—particularly those critical of Maduro—have welcomed the development.
Analysts are divided. Some see Trump's prediction as plausible given Cuba's economic fragility and recent protests over shortages. Others caution that the Cuban government has weathered similar crises before and may seek alternative partners, such as Russia or China, to fill the void.
The situation remains fluid, with implications not only for Cuba and Venezuela but for broader US policy in the Western Hemisphere under the revived Monroe Doctrine rhetoric.
Оригинальная статья: Trump: Cuba 'Ready to Fall' After Maduro Capture on Planet Today 🚀
Автоматически переопубликовано из основного блога.
