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source_url: https://en.mercopress.com/2026/02/27/trump-floats-a-friendly-takeover-of-cuba-says-talks-are-under-way-with-havana
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that his administration is holding talks with Cuba and suggested the process could lead to a potential “friendly takeover” of the island, portraying Havana as facing acute economic and supply strains.
“Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for Texas, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is managing the contacts “at a very high level,” according to Reuters.
The remarks came amid heightened bilateral tensions after a maritime incident off Cuba earlier this week. Cuba’s government said a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 people sought to infiltrate the country and exchanged fire with Cuban forces; four were killed and six wounded, according to an Associated Press report.
Trump framed the moment as potentially involving economic bargaining and domestic political interests. He argued that a deal could be “very positive” for Cuban exiles in the United States who want to return to the island, a key constituency in Florida. Reuters reported that Trump emphasized Cuba “has no money” and is “in big trouble,” saying the country wants U.S. help.
In parallel, Washington has tightened energy-related pressure on Cuba. The White House published an executive order on Jan. 29 declaring a national emergency with respect to Cuba and authorizing trade measures tied to oil supplies from third countries, as part of what the administration frames as a national-security approach.
Havana has not publicly confirmed the scope of direct talks with the Trump administration. The speedboat episode and Trump’s comments add uncertainty over the near-term direction of U.S.-Cuba relations as Cuba faces fuel constraints and a prolonged economic downturn.
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