Cuba Next After Venezuela And Iran? Trump Says...

President Donald Trump has explicitly signaled a potential military operation in Cuba, drawing direct parallels to the swift capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in January 2026. Speaking to Axios, Trump highlighted Cuba's close proximity to the U.S. as a logistical advantage, a stark contrast to the 'very long trip' associated with the recent military operations in Iran, which concluded with a June 17 Memorandum of Understanding. The remarks intensify fears of a new front in Washington's assertive foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere, already marked by an ongoing, severe energy and financial embargo on Cuba that has plunged the island into crisis. The bold assertion comes as the Trump administration continues to leverage its January 2026 success, Operation Absolute Resolve, which saw U.S. forces capture Maduro in Caracas and fly him to New York to face charges, fundamentally reshaping Venezuelan leadership under interim President Delcy Rodríguez. This precedent, coupled with a recent U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran (Operation Epic Fury) and subsequent de-escalation via the MoU, positions Washington with a potent playbook for perceived adversaries. Meanwhile, Cuba has been reeling from a U.S.-imposed fuel blockade following the Venezuelan intervention, facing critical shortages and nationwide blackouts, which Washington openly states is aimed at achieving regime change by year-end. Havana's foreign minister has already warned of a 'bloodbath' should the U.S. attempt military action, as the Cuban government simultaneously pushes through its most sweeping free-market reforms since the revolution, explicitly noting their viability hinges on the lifting of U.S. sanctions. With Secretary of State Marco Rubio deeply involved in Cuba policy and former Cuban leader Raúl Castro recently indicted by the U.S., the stage is set for a high-stakes confrontation. The coming months will reveal whether Trump's rhetorical escalation paves the way for a diplomatic breakthrough, mirroring the Iran MoU, or if the U.S. is prepared to deploy its 'Venezuela triumph' strategy on Cuba's shores.