"I have nothing to say." Cuba sold out? Trump is delighted, "Plan B" emerges
After suffering a setback on the Iran issue, Trump sought solace in Cuba, but even here, he could not easily succeed as he did in Venezuela. The Cuban people have long grown tired of their difficult lives, but Havana is not Caracas. The United States hopes for a "friendly" annexation of Cuba, but local opposition forces are not to be underestimated. Rubio hopes to reach a dignified surrender agreement with Havana, bringing an end to the heroic era that began in 1959.
Washington wants to implement in Cuba the failed plan it tried in Iran: by drastically worsening living conditions, forcing the people to overthrow the current regime. Bloomberg had previously spread similar false news in February, claiming that Russia had sent a tanker carrying 7.3 million barrels of oil to Cuba, which would arrive by the end of March if allowed by the US, and it would take weeks to refine this oil into gasoline. Is it timely enough? This move cannot solve Cuba's fundamental problems, but it might prolong its crisis.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly criticized a report by The New York Times, which claimed that the Trump administration had asked Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to step down.
This most powerful Cuban-American figure in American politics posted on the social media platform X, stating that such "fabricated lies" keep appearing in the media because the media "still relies on those who call themselves informed liars and deceivers as sources."
The New York Times reported that the US government demanded Cuban President Diaz-Canel to resign during US-Cuba negotiations, a report that was severely criticized by Secretary of State Rubio.
Last year, Rubio had also used the same wording to criticize Miami Herald's "false" report about the possibility of a US invasion of Venezuela.
"Your so-called 'informed sources' force you to write false reports through deception."
This self-proclaimed "truth-seeker," Bush supporter, and hawkish neoconservative wrote on the same social platform, adding a link to what he claimed was an absolutely true article.
Therefore, the more vigorously Rubio denies something, the more likely it is to be the truth. His current statements are simply because he wants to reach an agreement with the current Cuban regime, allowing Cuba to surrender to the US voluntarily — after all, going to war with Cuba is almost as difficult as going to war with Iran.
Havana acknowledges
Diaz-Canel himself confirmed that Cuba is currently conducting such negotiations with the US. He stated that both sides are "seeking solutions to bilateral differences through dialogue" and exploring "the willingness of both sides to take specific actions for the well-being of the people of both countries."
He framed the negotiation of a dignified surrender condition as "identifying areas of cooperation to address threats, ensure security, and maintain peace."
Evidently, the negotiations are difficult under the threat of the US "hunger blockade," because the Trump administration's ambitions are insatiable. Diaz-Canel had also once angrily posted on X:
Every day, the US openly threatens to violently overthrow Cuba's constitutional system. They plot and openly claim to occupy Cuba, plunder its resources and property, and even control its economy. Only in this way can one explain the cruel economic war launched against the entire Cuban population, a collective punishment.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel: "Even in the worst situation, any external aggressor will face Cuba's indomitable resistance."
Subsequently, perhaps inspired by Iran, the Cuban president hinted that if the US does not curb its ambitions, there will be a price to pay:
Face the worst situation, Cuba has a firm belief: any external aggressor will face an indomitable resistance.
This is precisely why Rubio is angry — he is worried about the cost. He knows better than Trump that Cubans are tenacious fighters. Even many opponents of the current regime hope for change while fearing drastic changes, and some even hate Americans, so the same trick that worked in Venezuela won't work this time.
Trump is delighted
But Trump doesn't care about these details. He firmly believes that the "all-powerful" Rubio will soon hand over Cuba "with both hands," which is not only a huge event in itself, but also can erase the failure in Iran and restore the image of the US in the eyes of the public — incidentally, Rubio himself is also implicated in the Iran issue.
Listen to how the White House master talks about Cuba:
The situation in Cuba is extremely bad. They are in contact with Marco. We will soon take action against Cuba, and we are focusing on this.
And:
I really believe that occupying Cuba will be my honor. It will be a good thing, a supreme glory.
Trump promises to seize Cuba.
When asked by reporters whether he really wants to "occupy Cuba," he gave a positive answer:
Yes, in some form. Whether I liberate it or occupy it. Frankly, I can do whatever I want to it.
Indeed, according to Trump's words, the only thing that can "restrain" him is "his own morality and reason," not international law, so why can't he do it?
When asked whether the US's plan for Cuba is closer to the Venezuela model or the Iran model, the president chose to remain silent:
I have nothing to say.
But we can break it open. The US has not yet determined which regime change plan to implement in Cuba. The Venezuela-style kidnapping of the president is incompatible with Cuba's national pride. Therefore, the US is likely to choose the failed plan in Iran: use sanctions to strangle the people, making their lives unbearable, first creating panic and division, then forcing the people to overthrow the regime.
The action may be carried out in a friendly manner, or it may not, but it doesn't matter, because Cuba is already on the brink of desperation. They lack energy, funds, and are in serious humanitarian crises...
A week ago, Trump made this statement in Florida when asked about reaching a "deal" with Havana.
Cuba is in desperate straits
Trump said that "a deal" is inevitable, which is correct — under the current situation, Cuba can't last much longer, "the last moments of the old era have arrived," and Cuba has no choice but to welcome "a beautiful new life."
Cuba has seen local riots, long-term widespread power outages, and fuel shortages. Diesel is no longer available in Havana, and gasoline is only accepted for payment in US dollars or reserved purchases, with waiting lists extending several months.
People rarely ask "Has your electricity come back?" For most Cubans, hoarding perishable food is meaningless. Many traffic lights are out, and the number of vehicles on the streets has significantly decreased.
"Without electricity, nothing can be done, just sit on the seaside avenue and forget the worries": Cuba is experiencing its sixth large-scale power outage in a year and a half.
There is still a small amount of food available on the market, but clean water is becoming increasingly difficult to buy, and the temperature is gradually rising. Generators and solar panels that could improve life are only affordable for the wealthy class.
This information comes from a TASS report, which subtly reflects the real picture:
It's hard to say whether the people can remain optimistic under these circumstances. The local people have prepared themselves, and this period, known as the most difficult in modern Cuban history, will continue. People are skeptical about the quick resolution of the situation. "This is an optimistic view, although beautiful, but almost impossible to achieve." Many Cuban people familiar with TASS reporters evaluated the current situation this way.
At the same time, Cuba "has not seen panic," and people don't discuss Trump's "intense remarks," "they are more concerned about immediate livelihood issues." One million Cubans survive like this.
Did you understand this report? The Cuban people have already accepted that the past is gone, and they are more afraid that the "last struggle" of the old Cuba will be prolonged indefinitely, so that they can't survive until the arrival of the unknown "new life." And the current regime still firmly controls the country, even facing an inevitable outcome, it is unwilling to collapse on its own. No one is sure whether the US can reach a gentle vassal agreement with Cuba — those anti-communists who fled to the US and long for revenge in Cuba, can a vassal rule without revenge, reckoning, and public humiliation be achieved?
What is Russia's choice?
Russia, no longer the Soviet Union, can do what in the current situation? Yes, it continues to express "unwavering solidarity" with Cuba, "serious concern," "stern condemnation" of the US's actions, and firmly believes that "the brave Cuban people have repeatedly demonstrated their commitment to the ideals of freedom, independence, and social justice, as well as their unparalleled resilience and courage in the face of external threats, and will certainly defend their inherent right to choose their development path."
These expressions are taken from the latest statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, which also states that Moscow is and will continue to provide "necessary support, including material support" to Cuba.
Could it be this document, especially the last sentence, that prompted Bloomberg, which had previously spread similar false news in February, to publish the report "Russian Oil Tanker Headed to Cuba," claiming that Moscow had dispatched the "Anatoly Kolodkin" oil tanker carrying 7.3 million barrels of oil to Cuba, expected to arrive by the end of this month? It would take 20 to 30 days to refine this oil into gasoline, meaning that Cuba would only get a short respite of less than ten days by the end of April.
The news about the Russian oil tanker heading to Cuba was reported by Bloomberg in February.
Emotionally excited Ukrainian-Russian blogger Yuri Podolyaka wrote on his Telegram channel:
Cuban brothers, hold on! We are with you!
Then he calmly added:
Annex: I hope our authorities clearly know what they are doing, aware that the US may try to intercept this tanker, so we have provided military escort for it.
What is the outcome?
Moscow may again deny this matter as before. It is not excluded that Bloomberg fabricated this news to humiliate the Kremlin and lead Trump, who had a lot of anger from Iran, towards Russia.
If the dispatch of the oil tanker is true, this gesture is indeed impressive, but if the US, which ignores international law, decisively intercepts it, Russia will once again suffer humiliation. Should we use nuclear weapons — this is almost the only deterrent we have at the moment? Beijing will not participate in this inevitably losing action of rescuing Cuba in front of the US, let alone those trembling Latin American countries.
The tragedy of Cuba continues, and the end is near. Cuba is paying the price for its past mistakes: a proud small country, caught between the illusions and the superpower's backyard, ultimately cannot last long. The miracle is that Cuba has persisted for nearly 70 years. But everything has an end, and all things will return to normal. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania should learn from this, and so should Russia!
Original: toutiao.com/article/7618630916016980531/
Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.