US President Donald Trump suggested that any future US operation in Cuba could resemble Washington's swift January intervention in Venezuela, arguing that the Caribbean island would be easier to project military power against than Iran because of its proximity to the United States.
Trump's comparison between Cuba and Venezuela
Speaking on The Axios Show, Trump was asked whether a potential operation in Cuba could unfold in a similar manner to the mission that resulted in the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. "Possibly. It's possible," the president replied.
Drawing a comparison between the two countries, Trump said geography would play a significant role. "These places are close by. Whereas if you look at Iran, that's a very long trip. You know, I flew to that area a few times and unrelated to this, but you're flying for 18 hours, you're flying for a long time. Venezuela is relatively close and Cuba is a hopscotch."
Trump also pointed to economic differences between the two nations, saying: "Venezuela has oil. Cuba doesn't. Cuba has a nice property and they have nice shoreline."
Rising tensions between Washington and Havana
His remarks come as tensions between Washington and Havana continue to rise amid tougher sanctions, growing military activity in the Caribbean and increasingly confrontational rhetoric from both sides. Trump has previously floated the idea of a "friendly takeover" of Cuba and said he would prefer a peaceful transition, though reports suggest his administration has examined contingency plans in the event of instability on the island.
The president acknowledged that any confrontation with Iran would be more challenging than operations closer to home. "The Iran operation is in a certain way, it's much bigger, much more powerful from the standpoint of weaponry than Venezuela," he said.
Referring to the Venezuelan operation, Trump added: "But Venezuela is a very military state. You know, they have a lot of soldiers. We went in less than ideal… And it actually lasted 48 minutes."
US military buildup in the Caribbean
The comments come as the US expands its military footprint around Cuba. Recent deployments have included the USS Nimitz carrier strike group, amphibious assault ships, guided-missile warships and an increase in surveillance flights across the Caribbean. American officials have also raised concerns over Cuba's ties with Russia and China, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing the island as a national security challenge.
Cuba remains a more complicated target
Despite comparisons with Venezuela, analysts argue that Cuba presents a more difficult challenge. While the island's military has weakened significantly since the collapse of Soviet support in the 1990s, Cuba retains a tightly controlled political system and experienced security apparatus.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has warned that any conflict would result in a "bloodbath" that could kill thousands of Cubans and Americans. Havana has also rejected allegations that it poses a military threat to the United States.
Relations between the two countries have remained strained since the 1959 Cuban Revolution, the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis a year later. Although Trump declined to provide any timeline for possible action, he said Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, is "involved very much" in discussions over Cuba policy.
