United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning regarding potential military intervention in Cuba, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Cuba has posed a national security threat for years. Trump stated that previous US presidents have contemplated intervening in Cuba for decades, but indicated that he might be the one to take action.
"Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years, doing something," Trump told reporters when questioned about Cuba during an environmental event in the Oval Office. "And, it looks like I'll be the one that does it. So, I would be happy to do it."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately informed reporters that Cuba has been a national security threat for years due to its connections with US adversaries, and that Trump is determined to address the issue. Rubio emphasized that the US prefers a negotiated agreement with Cuba.
Rubio, who is the son of Cuban immigrants, stated that the Trump administration aims to resolve differences with Cuba peacefully, but expressed doubt about the possibility of reaching a diplomatic resolution with the current government on the island. "Trump's preference is always a negotiated agreement that's peaceful. That's always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba," Rubio said in Miami before boarding a flight to attend a NATO meeting in Sweden and then visit India. "I'm just being honest with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening, given who we're dealing with right now, is not high," he added.
When asked whether the US would use force in Cuba to alter the island's political system, Rubio reiterated that a diplomatic settlement is preferred but noted that "the president always has the option to do whatever it takes to support and protect the national interest." He pushed back against a reporter's suggestion that it sounded like "nation-building," insisting that it was about addressing a national security risk.
Top Trump aides, including Rubio, CIA chief John Ratcliffe, and other senior national security officials, have held meetings with Cuban officials in recent months to explore potential improvements in relations.
