The US renewed threats of possible action against Cuba, with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio linking the pressure to changing Cuba’s communist system. Trump said past US presidents considered intervening and suggested he might be the one to act, while denying that naval exercises in the Caribbean were meant to intimidate Cuba. Rubio said Washington preferred diplomacy but judged a negotiated settlement with Cuba’s communist government as unlikely, warning Cuba could not wait out US pressure. Rubio cited Cuba’s security and intelligence ties with China and Russia as a national security threat. The US energy blockade reduced fuel shipments, contributing to blackouts, food shortages, and economic collapse. The US Department of Justice indicted former President Raul Castro over alleged involvement in the 1996 downing of two civilian US planes.
"Trump told reporters that past US presidents had considered intervening in Cuba but “it looks like I’ll be the one that does it.” Trump, however, denied that the deployment of the USS Nimitz and its escort warships to the Caribbean for maritime exercises was intended to intimidate Cuba. He framed the possibility of action as a continuation of prior considerations by earlier administrations while separating military movements from any stated goal of intimidation."
"Rubio said Washington preferred a diplomatic solution but warned the chances of a negotiated settlement with Cuba's communist government were “not high.” “They're not going to be able to wait us out or buy time. We're very serious, we're very focused,” he said. He added that Trump “always has the option to do whatever it takes to support and protect the national interest.”"
"The secretary of state described Cuba as a national security threat because of its security and intelligence ties with China and Russia. Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has long taken a hard line against Cuba's communist leadership. The framing tied Cuba’s internal political system to external strategic relationships, supporting a more confrontational US posture."
"The US' energy blockade choked off fuel shipments to Cuba, causing severe blackouts, food shortages and an economic collapse across the island. US Department of Justice announced the indictment of former Cuban President Raul Castro. The 94-year-old Castro has been charged for his alleged role in the downing of two civilian US planes by Cuban air force fighter jets in 1996 when he served as defense minister."
#us-cuba-relations #caribbean-security #diplomacy-vs-military-pressure #economic-sanctions #china-russia-influence
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]