According to AFP, Trump said at an event in Florida on May 1 that “our military can occupy Cuba almost immediately.”
He added that on the way back from Iran, he would send “one of our big assets,” possibly the USS Abraham Lincoln, which he described as among the world’s largest aircraft carriers. He said that if it were positioned about 100 yards off the coast, Cubans would say, “Thank you very much. We surrender.”
Trump also announced additional sanctions targeting Cuba. He designated individuals involved in key sectors including energy, defense and finance, and said foreign financial institutions that do business with them could face penalties. He also said Cuban government officials deemed involved in human rights abuses or corruption would be barred from entering the United States.
Trump has increased pressure on Cuba since the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January, pointing to the possibility of a military operation against Cuba, which he said has close ties with China and Russia. Cuba is facing broader anxiety and a sense of crisis as the Trump administration’s energy supply blockade takes effect.
Cuba strongly rejected Trump’s remarks. President Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote on X, formerly Twitter, calling Trump’s threat a “serious criminal act” and urging an international response.
“The president of the United States is raising the threat of a military attack against Cuba to a dangerous and unprecedented level,” Diaz-Canel said. “No matter how powerful the aggressor, they will not obtain surrender from Cuba.”
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also criticized the U.S. sanctions, calling them “collective punishment” of the Cuban people and a violation of the U.N. Charter.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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