"U.S. surveillance and reconnaissance flights have surged off of Cuba's coast since February, according to a CNN review of flight data published this week. The U.S. imposed additional sanctions on Havana last Thursday, prompting the country's foreign minister to describe the measures as a "collective punishment of a genocidal nature.""
"The island is also facing a worsening humanitarian crisis that Cuban officials have blamed on the U.S.' "energy blockade," which prevents oil suppliers from serving the island. And the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro further deteriorated local conditions by cutting Cuba off from a key oil supplier."
"Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told reporters last Thursday that Trump told him privately that he has no intention of invading Cuba during a closed door meeting at the White House. Yes, but: Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in a military operation in Cuba, suggesting Friday that an aircraft carrier returning to the U.S. from Iran could be stationed offshore."
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, told reporters Tuesday that the country's economic system doesn't work and can't be fixed. "And the reason that they can't fix it is not just because they're communist. That's bad enough," he said of the country's unelected ruling party. "But they're incompetent communists. The only thing worse than a communist is an incompetent one.""
U.S. surveillance and reconnaissance flights have increased off Cuba’s coast since February. Additional U.S. sanctions imposed on Havana have been condemned by Cuban officials as collective punishment. Cuba is also facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with Cuban officials blaming an energy blockade that prevents oil suppliers from serving the island. The situation deteriorated further after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which cut Cuba off from a key oil supplier. There are no definitive signs that President Trump will target Cuba next, and Lula da Silva reported that Trump told him privately he has no intention of invading. Trump has nonetheless suggested a possible military operation, including stationing an aircraft carrier offshore. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba’s economic system does not work and cannot be fixed, criticizing the ruling party as incompetent.
#us-cuba-relations #surveillance-and-reconnaissance #economic-sanctions #humanitarian-crisis #military-posture
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