President Signals Flexibility on Cuba Strategy, Cites Similarities to Successful Maduro Capture While Pressure on Havana Continues to Intensify
President Donald Trump said on June 19 that a potential U.S. operation in Cuba could resemble the swift American raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Caracas earlier this year.
In an interview with Axios, Trump said the timing of any action involving Cuba remains “flexible” and declined to provide additional details.
Asked whether such an operation could be similar to the Jan. 3 helicopter-borne raid in Venezuela, Trump responded, “Possibly. It’s possible.”
The mission, known as “Operation Absolute Resolve,” involved special forces breaching a fortified compound and capturing Maduro and his wife. Following the operation, the Trump administration established close cooperation with Venezuela’s interim government.
Trump also said Secretary of State Marco Rubio is involved in shaping U.S. policy toward Cuba.
“Marco’s doing a great job,” Trump said. “Marco’s parents—it’s such a great story—his parents were from Cuba.”
The president said the Venezuela operation was less complex than the military campaign against Iran.
“The Iran operation, in a certain way, is much bigger, much more powerful from the standpoint of weaponry than Venezuela,” Trump said.
He added that distance was another significant factor.
“These places are close by. Whereas if you look at Iran, that’s a very long trip,” Trump said. “I flew to that area a few times and unrelated to this, but you’re flying for 18 hours, you’re flying for a long time. Venezuela is relatively close, and Cuba is a hopscotch.”
Trump also highlighted what he considers a major difference between Venezuela and Cuba.
“Venezuela has oil. Cuba doesn't,” he said. “Cuba has nice property, and a nice shoreline.”
Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 revived the “maximum pressure” campaign against Cuba, contributing to a breakdown in formal relations between the two countries.
Following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, Washington restricted oil shipments to Cuba. The move ended the flow of inexpensive Venezuelan oil, depriving Cuba of its primary economic lifeline. As a result, the island has fallen into a severe economic and energy crisis.
In recent months, the Trump administration has intensified its pressure campaign by expanding sanctions targeting state-owned businesses, government agencies, and senior officials.
On May 20, one of the most significant escalations since the Cold War occurred when former Cuban President Raúl Castro was indicted on murder charges in the United States.
Meanwhile, conditions across Cuba continue to worsen, with daily blackouts and acute shortages of food, clean water, and essential medicines. Growing public frustration has fueled protests throughout the island.
Trump previously floated the idea of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, which lies just 90 miles south of Florida.
“We’re going to have Marco get involved with Cuba,” Trump told Axios. “Cuba wants to talk very badly.”
