The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has stated this Friday that his Administration "will take care of Cuba" once the war in Iran is over, and has announced that he will soon send his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, with the aim of closing a deal.
During a rally held in Fort Myers, in the state of Florida and in the final stretch towards the midterm elections, Trump described how, after the intervention in the Middle East, Washington's attention will turn to the Caribbean island. In that context, the president dramatized the scene by stating: "We are going to come back from Iran, those beautiful ships will pass by Cuba. We will make one of them stop about 45 meters from the coast. They will raise their hands; and then we are going to send Marco Rubio to finish the job."
The Republican leader has entrusted this mission to his head of diplomacy, of whom he has highlighted that he "will resolve" the matter because he is "a great guy." In turn, Rubio has predicted a possible regime change on the island and has reiterated his support for "those who seek to create positive change" in Cuba.
In a message disseminated on his social networks, the Secretary of State has called to take advantage of the current political moment: "Now is the time. The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of just a few; seize this opportunity to create the change you want through a discreet partnership with the CIA."
The reaction of the Cuban government has been immediate. The authorities in Havana have forecast an "inhospitable" outlook in the face of the intentions expressed by Trump, warning with "dog's tooth" to "those who come with hostile purposes and desires for domination."
The Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, has publicly rejected the words of the U.S. president and has emphasized the official stance of the country: "We reject any threat regarding U.S. ambitions towards Cuba. On our coasts, there are beautiful beaches, but also dog's tooth, inhospitable for those who come with hostile purposes and desires for domination. Cuba is not a threat, the blockade is."
This exchange of accusations occurs after, on Monday, U.S. authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of former Cuban president Raúl Castro for "conspiracy to commit murder," considering him responsible for the downing in 1996 of two civilian planes from the Cuban exile organization Brothers to the Rescue in international waters. In that incident, three U.S. citizens and one resident in the United States died.