President Donald Trump on Friday floated the prospect of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, saying the country’s government has been in talks with his administration.
“We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba after many, many years,” he told reporters at the White House. “They’re in big trouble and we could very well do something good, I think, very positive for the people that were expelled, or worse, from Cuba that live here.”
Trump did not specify what such a “takeover” would look like or offer a timetable for any potential action against the country. The president’s remarks came days after Cuban soldiers opened fire on a boat that it claimed was trying to infiltrate the island, killing four, including a US citizen.
Trump officials are still investigating the incident, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio called “highly unusual” and not part of any official operation.
Trump and his aides have criticized the Cuban government in the past, seeking to put increasing pressure on its leadership in the weeks since the US forced leadership change in Venezuela.
“They’re in a big deal of trouble, they have no money, they have no anything right now,” Trump said. “But they’re talking with us.”
