The possibility that Donald Trump or his organization could do business in Cuba has resurfaced in public conversation after the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, stated to the New York Times that the regime would not exclude the American president as an investor on the island.
The question arose from a project known as "Trump Island", a private initiative driven by a businessman from the United Arab Emirates who aims to develop a luxury tourist resort in Cayo Santa María, north of Villa Clara.
But what is that project really about, and what is true regarding it?
A private proposal, not a Trump project
The origin of the story is a report published in June by the Emirati newspaper The National, which revealed that the business group Abdulla Ali Bin Haidar Group signed a letter of intent with the Cuban government to promote a major tourism development in Cayo Santa María.
According to that source, the businessman Ali Abdullah Bin Haidar aims to transform the complex into a luxury destination aimed at the international market.
The proposal includes that, if negotiations with the Trump Organization succeed, the resort may be named "Trump Island".
However, the report itself clarifies that there is no agreement with Donald Trump's company, nor authorization to use its brand.
The documentation consulted by The National indicates that "Trump Island" is listed merely as a name option under consideration and clarifies that there is no commercial relationship or authorization from the Trump Organization.
Does the Trump Organization participate in the project?
No. So far, there is no evidence that the Trump Organization is involved in the development or has agreed to participate in it.
The Emirati businessman stated that he has been in contact with representatives of the organization and claimed that the idea was met with interest, although he acknowledged that he has not yet received any approval from the United States.
Additionally, The National reported that it requested an official response from the Trump Organization, but did not receive a reply before publishing the report.
What did the Cuban regime say?
The issue made it to the pages of the New York Times this week, when journalist Jack Nicas directly asked the Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, about those reports.
The official's first response was cautious: "I would say we are not considering anything of the sort in particular."
However, he immediately reiterated that Cuba seeks to attract foreign investment and that this policy does not exclude American entrepreneurs.
When asked specifically if Donald Trump could invest in the island, he replied: "If he wants to do it peacefully, we see no specific reason to exclude him."
Later he added: " What prohibits Donald Trump from investing in Cuba are U.S. laws. We do not exclude him or his organization from doing business in Cuba, as long as it is done in compliance with Cuban laws".
A change of tone in the midst of the economic crisis
The statements come at a particularly sensitive time for the Cuban economy.
The decline in tourism, the energy crisis and the recent reforms to ease foreign investment have led the regime to send signals of openness to potential international investors.
In this context, the reference to the Trump Organization takes on significant political value, as Fernández de Cossío himself had been one of the most vocal critics of the Trump administration in recent years.
Although the "Trump Island" project remains a private initiative with no confirmed involvement from the U.S. president's company, the response from the Deputy Foreign Minister represents the first public statement from a high-ranking Cuban official indicating that the regime would not veto a potential investment from Donald Trump or his organization in the island.
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