Trump Threatens “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba

Donald Trump told reporters Friday that he believes the United States could carry out a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, referring to the blockade the United States currently imposes on the island.

“The Cuban government is talking with us, they’re in big trouble as you know, they don’t have any money, they don’t have anything right now, but they’re talking with us,” Trump said. said reporters on the White House lawn as he prepared to board a helicopter. “Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up with a friendly takeover of Cuba.”

Trump: “Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba. » pic.twitter.com/AiyphuZGYV

-Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 27, 2026

The United States has actually arrested ships have impeded Cuba in recent months, preventing any oil from reaching the island. Last month, Trump signed an executive order threatening to impose tariffs on any country that sends oil to Cuba, and the country is now running out of fuel.

Trump’s comments about a takeover carry added weight given that Cuban border guard troops killed four people on a boat entering the country’s territorial waters on Wednesday, the Cuban government says people aboard the U.S.-registered vessel opened fire on the troops, who returned fire.

Trump has deployed several ships to the Caribbean Sea and seized several oil tankers in the region, preventing any country from attempting to thwart the blockade. This takes a toll on ordinary Cubans and exacerbates living conditions on the island. The New York Times reports as food prices skyrocket, schools cancel classes, hospitals suspend surgeries and waste piles up.

The United States authorizes some humanitarian aid to Cuba, including $6 million in aid through the Catholic Church. But Cuba’s medical assistance to other countries, which brings revenue to the government, is ending under pressure from the United States.

For example, Honduras announcement earlier this week, they would stop using Cuban doctors, following other countries like Guatemala, the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada that ended or reduced their use of Cuban medical professionals. All of this isolates and weakens Cuba, giving credence to the idea that the United States is preparing to take control of the island.

This story has been updated.