President Donald Trump told a rally of South Florida candidates on Friday that US warships returning from the Middle East could detour 50 yards off Cuba’s coast, a suggestion that signals an interventionist stance.
The comment came after a shouted question from the crowd, and Trump echoed a line he floated earlier this year, but had not mentioned in recent months. He said that the warships would "pass Cuba" and "stop about 50 yards off the coast" before sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio to "finish the deal".
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has repeatedly warned that Cuba remains a national security threat due to ties with adversaries. He posted on social media that "now is the time" for action, hinting at a discreet partnership with the CIA.
Cuba’s economy has collapsed since 2020, with GDP shrinking, blackouts, food shortages and inflation hitting 10 million residents. Hundreds of thousands have fled, many to the United States, deepening the humanitarian crisis.
The US has imposed new sanctions on Havana, and the proposal could trigger a congressional debate on Cuba policy ahead of the June 5 midterm elections, where voters have expressed concern over the impact of the Iran war on domestic prices.