At a Glance
- US overnight operation seized Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Cuba that it is “in a lot of trouble.”
- President Donald Trump signaled that the U.S. may target Cuba next.
- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel denounced the action as state terrorism.
- Why it matters: The move signals a sharp escalation in U.S. pressure on Venezuela and its allies, raising tensions in the Western Hemisphere.
After the U.S. seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, the administration turned its attention to Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump issued stern warnings to Havana, while Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned the action as state terrorism.
U.S. Operation and Cuban Warning
The overnight operation that captured Maduro was followed by Rubio’s statement on NBC News’ Meet the Press. He said the U.S. is not a fan of the Cuban regime, which had propped up Maduro, and warned that Cuba is in a lot of trouble.
Marco Rubio said:
> “I’m not going to talk to you about what our future steps are going to be and our policies are going to be right now in this regard,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s any mystery that we are not big fans of the Cuban regime, who, by the way, are the ones that were propping up Maduro.”
Rubio also said Cuban officials guarded Maduro and handled internal intelligence, spying on traitors. All of these were Cubans.
Trump and Rubio on Cuba
Trump and Rubio signaled that the administration could target Cuba next. Trump compared Cuba to Venezuela, calling it a failing nation and saying the U.S. wants to help the people and those displaced from Cuba.
Donald Trump said:
> “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned.”
He added:
> “Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation right now, a very badly failing nation, and we want to help the people.”
Trump also criticized other Latin leaders, accusing Colombia’s Gustavo Petro of running cocaine mills and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum of allowing cartels to operate.
Cuban Response
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel denounced the U.S. operation on X, calling it state terrorism and demanding international reaction. The Cuban government issued a statement condemning the U.S. aggression and reaffirming support for Venezuela.
Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote:
> “#Cuba denounces and urgently demands the reaction of the international community against the criminal attack by the U.S. on #Venezuela. Our #ZonaDePaz is being brutally assaulted. State terrorism against the brave Venezuelan people and against Our America.”
The government statement added:
> “We strongly condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the military aggression carried out by the United States against Venezuela, while categorically reaffirming Cuba’s absolute support and solidarity with the sister Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and its government.”
It called the U.S. action a criminal act, a violation of international law and the UN Charter, and urged all nations of the region to remain alert.
Rubio’s Long-Term Position
Rubio, a Cuban-American hawk, has long pushed for regime change in Cuba and Venezuela. In 2019 he argued that the U.S. had a right to use military force in Venezuela and that targeting Maduro would destabilize Cuba, cutting its revenue from security and espionage services.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. seized Maduro and his wife, escalating pressure on Venezuela and its allies.
- Rubio and Trump warned Cuba that it faces retaliation, citing Cuba’s support for Maduro.
- Cuban President Diaz-Canel denounced the action as state terrorism and called for international condemnation.
The U.S. operation and the ensuing rhetoric highlight a new phase of tension between Washington and Havana, with implications for the entire Western Hemisphere.
