...
By Gabe Whisnant
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States is in talks with Cuba and raised the possibility of what he called a “friendly takeover” of the communist‑run island, without explaining what such a move would entail.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House as he departed for a trip to Texas, Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio was engaged in discussions with Cuban officials “at a very high level.”
“The Cuban government is talking with us,” Trump said. “They have no money. They have no anything right now. But they’re talking to us, and maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba.”
Read More on World
The White House did not respond to requests for clarification or elaboration on the president’s remarks. Newsweek reached out to the State Department via its contact page on Friday afternoon for comment.
Trump Floats ‘Friendly Takeover’ Without Details
Trump repeated the phrase several times but did not define what he meant by a “friendly takeover,” nor did he outline any specific diplomatic, economic or military steps under consideration. His comments appeared to suggest that U.S.–Cuba relations were approaching a turning point after decades of hostility.
He described Cuba as “a failed nation” and said its leaders were seeking U.S. assistance. “They want our help,” Trump said, without offering further explanation.
The United States has maintained a sweeping trade embargo against Cuba since 1962, following Fidel Castro’s communist revolution and the failed CIA‑backed Bay of Pigs invasion the previous year. While previous administrations have eased or tightened restrictions at different times, the embargo remains largely intact.
Earlier this month, Trump indicated that contacts with Cuban officials were underway, signaling a possible shift in approach even as his administration has pursued a hard‑line posture toward leftist governments in the region.
Rising Tensions After Armed Boat Incident
Trump’s remarks came days after a violent maritime incident heightened tensions between Washington and Havana. Cuba’s government said a Florida‑registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cubans from the United States opened fire on Cuban soldiers off the island’s north coast.
According to Cuban officials, four of the armed individuals were killed, and six were wounded during the exchange of gunfire. One Cuban official was also injured. The Cuban government described the incident as an attack originating from U.S. territory.
Cuba confirmed earlier this week that it was communicating with U.S. officials following the shooting. Rubio has said both the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating the incident, stressing the need to verify the facts.
...
Cuba’s Economic Crisis and Venezuela Fallout
Trump has increasingly focused on Cuba’s economic vulnerability, particularly following the removal of one of its closest allies, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, earlier this year. U.S. forces ousted Maduro in January, cutting off a major source of subsidized oil that Cuba has relied on for years.
In the aftermath, Trump suggested that military action against Cuba might be unnecessary because the island’s economy could collapse under its own weight. He reiterated that view Friday, saying Cuba was in “big trouble.”
“We’ve had a lot of years of dealing with Cuba,” Trump said. “I’ve been hearing about Cuba since I’m a little boy. But they’re in big trouble.”
The loss of Venezuelan oil has worsened Cuba’s already severe energy crisis, leading to blackouts, shortages and growing public unrest. The government has blamed U.S. sanctions for compounding the country’s economic difficulties.
Exiles, Embargo and Oil Sanctions
Trump also alluded to the Cuban exile community in the United States, suggesting that any shift in policy could benefit those who fled the island.
“There could be something coming that I think is very positive for the people that were expelled, or worse, from Cuba and live here,” he said, without elaborating.
In late January, Trump signed an executive order pledging to impose tariffs on countries that provide oil to Cuba, threatening to further squeeze the island’s economy. U.S. officials later clarified that Venezuelan oil could still be sold to Cuban interests in certain cases, though the broader restrictions remain in place.
Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, posted on social media Friday that the U.S. fuel embargo remained fully intact and amounted to collective punishment. The post was later deleted.
“Nothing announced in recent days changes this reality,” Fernández de Cossío wrote, adding that limited private‑sector oil sales would not ease the burden on ordinary Cubans.
...
Civil Society Groups Warn of Humanitarian Impact
More than 40 U.S. civil society organizations sent a letter to Congress on Friday urging lawmakers to push the Trump administration to reverse what they described as an aggressive policy toward Cuba.
The letter warned that efforts to restrict oil shipments could trigger a humanitarian collapse on the island. Signatories included the Alliance of Baptists, ActionAid USA and the Presbyterian Church.
“Policies that deliberately impose hunger and mass hardship on millions of civilians constitute a form of collective punishment,” the letter said, calling such actions a violation of international humanitarian law.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Update 2/27/26, 5:07 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it's not "both sides," it's sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines