The United States government is reportedly seeking new leadership in Cuba and aims to remove the communist regime by the end of this year, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
Following the successful ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the WSJ reported that the Trump administration is actively working with insiders within the Cuban government to facilitate regime change in Cuba.
US officials believe that Cuba’s economy is on the verge of collapse, worsened by diminishing support from Venezuela. Insiders familiar with the situation on the ground told the WSJ that reports indicate shortages of basic goods and medicines, as well as frequent blackouts throughout the country.
The United States government has previously stated plans to weaken Cuba's regime by cutting off vital resources, such as Venezuelan oil.
In early January, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform, "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!" He added, "I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
US seeks a Cuban negotiator
Alongside any pressure on the country's resources, the WSJ reported that the US administration is also seeking a Cuban government negotiator to discuss the end of Communist rule, similar to its approach in Venezuela.
However, the WSJ noted that employing the same strategy in Cuba as was used in Venezuela may not yield results as easily.
Ricardo Zúñiga, a former official from the Barak Obama administration who helped negotiate the short-lived peace between the US and Cuba from 2014 to 2017, told the WSJ, that there is nobody who would be tempted to work with the United States currently.
“These guys are a much tougher nut to crack," he said.
While the US has not publicly threatened military action in Cuba, officials in the Trump administration have suggested that the operation to extract Maduro should serve as an implicit warning to Havana.
Despite these pressures, Cuba’s government, led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel has reportedly rejected the idea of any negotiation or surrender, opting instead to conduct military exercises to demonstrate its resolve.