US Pursues Leadership Change in Cuba Following Venezuelan President's Capture
The United States government has reportedly shifted its focus toward orchestrating a leadership transition in Cuba, following the successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. According to exclusive reports from The Wall Street Journal, American officials are actively working to oust Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel by the conclusion of 2026.
Strategic Meetings and Diplomatic Efforts
Administration representatives have already initiated discreet meetings with Cuban exile communities in both Miami and Washington. The primary objective of these discussions is to identify and engage with government insiders within Havana who might be willing to facilitate a peaceful transition of power. This strategy mirrors previous efforts in Venezuela, where internal cooperation proved instrumental.
Cuba's longstanding alliance with Venezuela has historically provided the island nation with crucial oil supplies and financial support. However, with the removal of the Maduro regime, Cuba now faces severe economic challenges, including frequent blackouts, extensive supermarket queues, and persistent petrol shortages. These conditions represent the country's most severe economic crisis in decades.
Official Statements and Political Rhetoric
A senior White House official commented to The Wall Street Journal, stating, 'Cuba's rulers are incompetent Marxists who have destroyed their country, and they have had a major setback with the Maduro regime that they are responsible for propping up.' This statement underscores the administration's firm stance against the current Cuban leadership.
Former President Donald Trump previously issued a stark warning to Cuba shortly after Maduro's capture. In a social media post, he declared, 'THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.'
Cuban Response and Historical Context
President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded defiantly on social media platform X, asserting Cuba's sovereignty. He stated, 'Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. No one dictates what we do. Cuba does not aggress; it is aggressed upon by the United States for 66 years, and it does not threaten; it prepares, ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood.'
Diaz-Canel further criticised American foreign policy, adding, 'Those who turn everything into a business, even human lives, have no moral authority to point the finger at Cuba in any way, absolutely in any way.'
In a related development, Trump responded approvingly to a social media prediction that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, might become president of Cuba, simply writing, 'Sounds good to me!'
This latest initiative is not America's first attempt to influence Cuban governance. Historical records show:
- The United States attempted to purchase Cuba in the 1840s and 1850s, prior to its independence in 1902.
- During the 1960s, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion aimed to overthrow then-leader Fidel Castro.
The current strategy appears to favour diplomatic and internal pressure over direct military intervention, reflecting a nuanced approach to regime change in the region.
