US President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that the United States could turn its attention to Cuba after the war against Iran.
Speaking at a reception at the White House, Trump said his administration wanted to “fix” and “finish” the situation in Iran first, but indicated that Cuba could be addressed afterward.
“We want to fix, finish this one first — but that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba,” he said.
Addressing US secretary of state Marco Rubio, the Miami-born son of Cuban immigrants, Trump added: “You’ve been doing a fantastic job on a place called Cuba.”
“What's happening with Cuba is amazing, and we think that we want to finish this one first, but that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba,” he said. “Hopefully, not to stay.”
Washington has imposed an energy blockade on the communist-ruled island, which has sharply reduced its fuel supplies. The move followed the US capture of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, a key oil supplier to Cuba.
According to AFP, no oil has been imported to the island since January 9, forcing airlines to cut flights and worsening the country’s long-running economic crisis.
Trump’s remarks have raised concerns among many in Cuba that the island could be next on Washington’s list of foreign interventions, especially after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran that killed the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
Both Trump and Rubio have previously expressed support for regime change in Havana.
