President Trump noted that "these are the last moments of the old life for Cuba," adding that "it will have a wonderful new life." He clarified that at the moment the focus is on Iran, but the operation there is coming to an end.
He also addressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio with a question about his plans after the situation with Iran is resolved. "Maybe he should take a short break and then deal with Cuba — it will be easy," Trump said.
Earlier, Trump claimed that for the U.S., Cuba after Iran would be "a matter of time," and suggested that the island's government "will collapse soon." He noted that Havana "is so eager for a deal that you can't even imagine." Additionally, he expressed his intention to send Rubio to negotiate with Cuban leaders.
U.S. forces began to increase their presence in the Caribbean in August 2025. Since September, American military forces have started attacking ships that they believe are related to drug trafficking. At the end of January 2026, Trump declared a state of emergency in the country, citing a threat to national security from Cuba.
