The United States is trying to bring about a change in Cuba this year. A new series of internal U.S. government and media reports depict a more urgent strategic vision for Cuba under the Trump administration. U.S. officials believe that Cuba's economy, already in long-term trouble, is approaching collapse due to deteriorating relations with Venezuela, making the government more vulnerable than at any time in its history. This assessment is partly based on intelligence agency observations of issues such as energy shortages, basic commodity shortages, and prolonged power outages, as well as the consequences after Venezuela's role in supporting Havana has significantly declined. The U.S. is seeking to identify individuals within the Cuban regime who may be willing to "see the situation clearly and negotiate," and this strategy is seen as potentially capable of bringing about a political shift within this year. The overall framework draws on the model of previous U.S. actions in Venezuela, where cooperation with local internal forces was used. At the same time, Trump publicly demanded on social media that Cuba reach an agreement with the U.S. "before it's too late," and announced the stoppage of oil and financial flows from Venezuela, which is viewed by outsiders as a means to further weaken the ruling base in Havana through economic pressure. The Cuban government has strongly denied any willingness to make concessions and emphasized that sovereignty is inviolable. This situation has drawn widespread attention in the region, including large-scale anti-U.S. demonstrations in Havana by Cuban citizens condemning American interference.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/1855091957794825/
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