Washington: The U.S. government, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, is putting together contingency plans to address the potential collapse of Cuba's communist government, which officials believe could happen as early as this summer.
According to Thai News Agency, senior U.S. officials have indicated that the White House and various security agencies have assessed that Cuba is facing a severe infrastructure and economic crisis, nearing a critical point. In response, several agencies are preparing contingency plans for a possible collapse of the Cuban government. The U.S. Southern Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, has conducted simulated exercises to ready the military and response strategies in case of internal or civil unrest in Cuba during the summer months.
Despite these preparations, U.S. officials assert that there are no current plans or orders to invade Cuba. President Trump maintains his focus on advocating for a peaceful transition to a liberal regime. Advisors to Trump emphasize efforts to avoid prolonged military presence in the region, suggesting any deployment of ground troops would not exceed 48 hours.
Historically, the United States has applied gradual pressure tactics to weaken the Cuban government's economic foundations, such as disrupting oil routes and imposing energy blockades. Following the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicol¡s Maduro, a critical source of oil for Cuba was eliminated. Additionally, the U.S. announced secondary sanctions against GAESA, a military-affiliated business group, leading to the withdrawal of foreign companies from Cuba. The U.S. Department of Justice also filed charges against former President Raºl Castro, intensifying pressure on the Cuban elite.
The contingency planning comes as Cuba faces a complex crisis involving frequent power grid failures and a dwindling water supply, with only 37% fuel remaining, impacting over 3 million citizens. Officials worry that the combination of summer heat, along with shortages of food, medicine, and electricity, could spark widespread protests and potential violent crackdowns by the Cuban government.
Cuban President Miguel Daz-Canel has rejected U.S. demands and placed the Cuban military on high alert against external threats. Intelligence reports suggest possible acquisitions of armed drones from Russia and Iran by Cuba. Meanwhile, the U.S. has not yet determined a candidate from Cuban history to lead a transitional government. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio remains open to negotiating economic reforms and political liberalization, provided Cuba releases political prisoners, conducts free elections, and ceases cooperation with Russian and Chinese intelligence agencies.