U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that the United States could pursue what he described as a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio was handling discussions at a “very high level.”
Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Texas, Trump characterized Cuba as a country in severe economic distress and indicated that communications between Washington and Havana were underway.
“The Cuban government is talking with us,” Trump said. “They’re in a big deal of trouble. They have no money, no oil, no food. Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover.”
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between the two countries and reports that U.S. officials have been engaged in quiet contacts involving individuals connected to Cuba’s leadership.
Cuban authorities, however, have denied participating in any high-level negotiations with Washington. While Havana has not directly addressed media reports of informal outreach, it has publicly stated that no formal talks are taking place.
Recent reporting by U.S. outlets suggested that Rubio or individuals close to him had met with Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro. According to those reports, contacts may have occurred on the sidelines of a regional Caribbean Community summit.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated further following an incident in which Cuban forces killed four exiles and wounded six others after a Florida-registered speedboat entered Cuban waters and allegedly opened fire on a patrol vessel. Rubio denied that the episode was linked to any U.S. government operation.
The situation unfolds as Washington has intensified economic pressure on the island, including restricting oil shipments, measures that have compounded Cuba’s existing shortages of fuel and basic goods.
Trump also referenced the large Cuban-American community in Florida, suggesting that some exiles would welcome political change on the island. “We have people living here who want to go back,” he said, describing a potential shift in Cuba as “very positive.”
Rubio, who has long been critical of Havana’s communist government, has argued in recent weeks that the current situation in Cuba is unsustainable and requires dramatic change.
The White House did not provide additional details about any ongoing discussions or clarify what Trump meant by a “friendly takeover.”