The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described the Cuban government as "a significant problem" following the attacks in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro, while noting that the Cuban regime played a central role in protecting the former Venezuelan president.
In statements to the network NBC during the program 'Meet the Press', Rubio refrained from confirming whether Cuba could be the next target of the administration of Donald Trump, but hinted at the possibility of new actions.
“I am not going to talk about our next steps or policies at this moment, but it is no mystery that we are not great admirers of the Cuban regime,” he asserted.
The secretary stated that Maduro's security apparatus was controlled by Cuban agents. “It was the Cubans, not the Venezuelans, who guarded Maduro,” he indicated.
"Their internal security apparatus and intelligence system —which monitor others to prevent betrayals— are entirely run by Cubans." Rubio stated that this "internal colonization" partly explains the close dependence between Caracas and Havana.
On Saturday, President Donald Trump confirmed to the New York Post that during the U.S. military operation to capture Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, “many Cubans lost their lives.”
Without detailing numbers, the president added: “They were protecting Maduro. That was not a good move.”
The words of Rubio and Trump reignite international attention on the immediate future of Cuba, whose government—closely tied to chavismo—could face growing isolation following the fall of its main regional ally.
Analysts agree that Washington is now assessing how to reshape its strategy in the Caribbean, while the White House reinforces its narrative of "liberating the Western Hemisphere from authoritarianism."
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