Washington, DC: After Venezuela and Iran, Cuba seems to be in the crosshairs of US president Donald Trump.
Cuba is “going to fall pretty soon”, Trump said, even as US prosecutors examine possible legal cases against leaders of the island’s communist government, as reported by CNN.
The Cuban government was under increasing pressure and a change could come soon, Trump said in a phone interview with CNN. Havana was eager to negotiate with Washington, he said, adding that the country “wants to make a deal so badly”.
His comments follow remarks he made earlier at the White House earlier this week, where he again said Cuba was seeking talks with the United States, as reported by The Indian Express.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio would play a key role in dealing with the situation, Trump told CNN’s Dana Bash. Rubio’s family left Cuba during the rule of former leader Fulgencio
Batista.
We’ve got plenty of time, but Cuba’s ready – after 50 years,” Trump said.
According to reports, Cuba has been facing a severe energy shortage in recent months. The situation worsened after the US targeted shipments linked to Venezuela, one of Havana’s main oil suppliers. The shortages have led to widespread power cuts, with large parts of the country experiencing blackouts.
US prosecutors in Florida are also exploring possible criminal cases against Cuban officials, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Jason Reding Quiñones, US attorney for the Southern District of Florida, has formed a working group of federal prosecutors and investigators to examine whether members of Cuba’s government or its Communist Party may have violated US laws.
This group includes officials from several agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, those familiar with the effort told AP on condition of anonymity.
It is not yet clear which officials may be under scrutiny or what charges investigators could pursue.
The development comes at a time when Trump has suggested the possibility of closer US involvement in the country’s future political direction. This could well mean the end of the last communist bastion close to US shores that held out for decades.