President Donald Trump said Friday that Cuba could soon undergo major political change, suggesting the island nation may be nearing a turning point after decades of tension with the United States.
Speaking in a phone interview with CNN and journalist Dana Bash, Trump said Cuba “is going to fall pretty soon," while discussing what he described as U.S. military successes during his second term.
Trump claimed that Cuban leaders are eager to negotiate with Washington. He added that he may assign Secretary of State Marco Rubio to handle the issue once current international priorities are addressed. According to Trump, the administration is currently focused on tensions involving Iran, but believes there will be time later to address Cuba.
“They want to make a deal very badly," Trump said, adding that after more than 50 years of strained relations, Cuba now appears ready to negotiate.
Trump also said he has been watching developments in Cuba for decades and believes the situation has shifted in the United States’ favor.
A day earlier at the White House, Trump suggested it may only be a matter of time before Cuban Americans are able to return to their homeland, hinting that Cuba could become a future focus for the administration once the ongoing conflict involving Iran is resolved.
Praising Rubio’s work, Trump said the secretary of state is prepared to take on the Cuba issue next, but prefers to finish dealing with current conflicts first. He added that addressing multiple international crises at once could create risks, and said the administration wants to proceed carefully to avoid negative consequences for the United States.
In recent weeks, mainly since Operation Absolute Resolve in which Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was kidnapped, Cuba has been dealing with a significant energy crisis after Venezuela was the main oil exporter to Cuba. Trash is also piling up in Cuban streets, and there have been many power outages.