Donald Trump joked Friday that the U.S. Navy could take on Cuba while returning from Iran.
During a keynote address at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches on Friday, Donald Trump suggested in a lighthearted tone that the US Navy could turn its attention to Cuba after completing operations related to Iran, joking about acting “almost immediately.”
The president also signed a broad executive order on May 1, 2026, targeting key sectors of Cuba’s economy, including energy, defense, mining, and financial services.
The measures extend to foreign companies and financial institutions engaging with Havana. The move follows a 2023 US-backed operation that resulted in the removal of Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela.
Trump further accused Cuba of supporting Maduro’s alleged drug-related networks in exchange for oil—supplies that have since been disrupted by US sanctions. The resulting oil embargo has intensified fuel shortages on the island, severely affecting healthcare services and infrastructure.
The United Nations has issued repeated warnings that Cuba is nearing a significant humanitarian crisis due to these conditions.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla condemned the sanctions, stating on X that the measures represent “collective punishment” against the Cuban population.
He noted the timing of the announcement, pointing out it coincided with May 1 demonstrations in Cuba, where citizens protested the longstanding US blockade and energy restrictions.
Parrilla also criticized Washington for what he described as interference in foreign affairs under the pretext of promoting democracy, while alleging domestic repression within the United States.
He argued that the sanctions violate international law and the United Nations Charter, asserting that the US lacks authority to impose such measures on Cuba or third parties.
Meanwhile, Washington has been urging Cuban leadership to engage in negotiations, warning that time for dialogue may be limited.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel has consistently rejected these calls, describing them as being made under unfavorable and “hostile” conditions.
Cuban officials maintain that any future talks must be conducted on equal terms, without threats to the country’s sovereignty or territorial integrity.
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