Source bbc
Former US President Donald Trump on Friday issued a sharp warning to Cuba, urging the Caribbean nation to “make a deal” with the United States before it is “too late,” reigniting tough rhetoric that marked his earlier approach toward Havana.
In a statement shared with supporters, Trump said the Cuban leadership continues to “miss opportunities” for economic growth and political stability by resisting US demands for reforms. He accused the Cuban government of suppressing freedoms and mismanaging the country’s economy, adding that Washington would not ease pressure without “real and verifiable change.”
Trump’s comments signal a possible return to a hardline policy should he regain power, reversing the diplomatic engagement pursued during the Obama administration and partly restored under President Joe Biden. During his presidency, Trump rolled back several Obama-era measures, tightened economic sanctions, restricted travel, and placed Cuba back on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Cuban officials have not immediately responded to Trump’s remarks. However, Havana has repeatedly rejected US ultimatums in the past, describing sanctions as the main cause of the island’s economic hardship and insisting that its political system is a matter of national sovereignty.
Analysts say Trump’s warning appears aimed at appealing to Cuban-American voters while reinforcing his broader foreign policy message of “maximum pressure” on adversaries. With the US election season gaining momentum, Cuba once again risks becoming a focal point in Washington’s domestic political debate.
The renewed exchange highlights the fragile state of US-Cuba relations, which remain strained amid ongoing economic challenges in Cuba and deep mistrust between the two countries.
