Sources familiar with the situation claim that Washington believes the Cuban economy is in critical condition, and the government has been significantly weakened due to the loss of support from Nicolás Maduro. In interviews with the newspaper, high-ranking officials noted that the White House lacks a clear plan for overthrowing the Cuban regime; however, events in Venezuela, including the overthrow of Maduro, serve as a warning for Cuba.
Some members of the Trump administration emphasize that the president rejects traditional approaches to regime change and prefers to seek opportunities for deals. However, as noted in the article, implementing the model used in Venezuela may prove more complicated in the case of Cuba.
The potential overthrow of the Cuban government could lead to serious instability and humanitarian crises, from which Trump sought to protect Venezuela while maintaining loyal politicians in key positions.
According to the WSJ, among the possible strategies for pressuring Cuba is a combination of escalation and offers for negotiations. The U.S. intends to weaken the Cuban economy by limiting its oil supplies from Venezuela and plans to complicate the operation of Cuban medical programs abroad, which are an important source of foreign currency for the country. In particular, Washington may impose a ban on issuing visas to Cuban and foreign officials involved in these programs.
