After Venezuela, Cuba? Trump Says Operation To Change The Caribbean Island's Leadership Is 'Possible'
After Venezuela, Cuba? Trump Says Operation To Change The Caribbean Island's Leadership Is 'Possible' Published By, Last Updated: June 20, 2026, 11:53 IST Trump said
After Venezuela, Cuba? Trump Says Operation To Change The Caribbean Island's Leadership Is 'Possible' Published By, Last Updated: June 20, 2026, 11:53 IST Trump said a future operation in Cuba is "possible" and it could unfold in a manner similar to the Venezuela mission. File image of US President Donald Trump. (Reuters File) US President Donald Trump suggested that a potential American operation in Cuba could resemble the military campaign that led to the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. In an exclusive interview with Axios, Trumps hinted that Havana remains firmly in Washington’s strategic crosshairs. Trump further told Axios that a future operation in Cuba is “possible" and it could unfold in a manner similar to the Venezuela mission when asked whether the two situations were comparable.
The remarks come as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Cuba while simultaneously pursuing diplomatic and military initiatives across multiple regions, including the Middle East and Latin America. According to Axios, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to project US influence across the Western Hemisphere and has previously floated the idea of a “friendly takeover" of Cuba. While emphasizing that he would prefer a peaceful transition on the island, Trump acknowledged that military contingency plans have been developed in the event of a collapse of Cuba’s communist government. The administration has reportedly conducted planning exercises for various scenarios, including civil unrest and political instability in Cuba. Trump also contrasted the Cuba situation with the recent US operation against Iran, describing the latter as a much larger military undertaking from the standpoint of weaponry and scale.
The comments follow months of escalating pressure on Havana. The administration has tightened economic restrictions on Cuba and warned of consequences if the island seeks to acquire weapons systems capable of threatening US territory or the American naval base at Guantanamo Bay. Analysts have increasingly compared Trump’s Cuba strategy to the playbook used against Venezuela. The approach includes economic pressure, diplomatic isolation, military signaling and public discussions about political transition. However, experts caution that Cuba’s political structure, geography and international alliances make it a fundamentally different challenge from Venezuela. Trump declined to provide any timeline for a potential Cuba operation, telling Axios that the situation remains “flexible." His comments are likely to fuel further debate over Washington’s increasingly assertive posture in Latin America and the future of US-Cuba relations. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
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