Trump hints at 'friendly takeover' of Cuba, calls it a failed state

US President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of what he described as a "friendly takeover" of Cuba, indicating that the US administration is closely monitoring the situation there. Trump clarified in statements to reporters before departing the White House for Texas that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is managing this file at very high levels, confirming that the Cuban government is seeking negotiations due to immense economic pressures.

The US President described Cuba as a "failed state" lacking basic resources such as money, oil, and food, considering that change has become an urgent necessity for the island, which has been suffering for decades. Trump added that Washington is receiving signals about Cuba's desire for American assistance, which opens the door to new scenarios for dealing with the communist regime there in light of its current crisis.

In contrast, the Cuban government quickly denied the existence of any official high-level negotiations with the American side, although it did not definitively deny reports of unofficial contacts. Press reports circulated about secret meetings between officials close to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro, in an attempt to open channels of communication away from traditional diplomatic frameworks.

Media sources indicated that these meetings took place on the sidelines of the Caribbean regional group conference in St. Kitts and Nevis, where the American side is seeking to explore opportunities for political change in Havana. These moves come at a time when economic pressures on Cuba have increased after Washington's decision to cut most vital oil supplies that were reaching the island, leading to an exacerbation of living crises.

On the ground, recent days have witnessed a dangerous security escalation after four Cuban exiles were killed and six others injured by Cuban forces while sailing in a Florida-registered boat. Although Havana accused the boat of firing on one of its patrols, Marco Rubio denied any involvement of the US government in this operation, confirming that it was not an official move by Washington.

Trump's recent statements reflect a tougher stance towards Cuba, as observers believe that the current US administration is seeking to exploit the island's economic collapse to impose a new political reality. The question remains about the nature of the "friendly takeover" that Trump referred to, and whether it will take an economic or political character that ultimately leads to the end of the decades-long communist rule.

"Perhaps we'll do a friendly takeover of Cuba, they're negotiating with us now because they're in big trouble and they have nothing."