In a move that sparked widespread controversy and political speculation about the future of US foreign policy in Latin America, President Donald Trump retweeted a message on social media hinting at the possibility of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio becoming the next president of Cuba. This hint, accompanied by Trump's comment "Sounds good to me!", was not merely a passing joke, but carried profound implications at a highly sensitive time for the region.
The original message that Trump reacted to was posted on TruthSocial by a user named Cliff Smith and included the explicit statement: "Marco Rubio will be president of Cuba," accompanied by a laughing emoji. Although the user is not a well-known public figure and identifies himself as a conservative from California, Trump's picking up and sharing of the message brought renewed attention to Marco Rubio's Cuban heritage. Born to Cuban immigrant parents, Rubio is known for his historically hawkish stance against the communist regime in Havana.
Explosive regional context: After the Caracas operation
This remark cannot be interpreted in isolation from the dramatic developments that have recently unfolded in the region. Trump's comment came just one week after a major military operation by US forces in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, which resulted in the capture of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his transfer to the United States. This operation, dubbed "Operation Caracas" by Washington, led to the deaths of hundreds of Venezuelans and Cuban security personnel who were supporting the Maduro regime, dealing a significant blow to Cuban influence in Venezuela.
Analysts point out that Maduro's downfall would place the Cuban regime in an existential crisis, as Venezuela has been a vital economic and political lifeline for Havana. Consequently, Trump's remarks regarding Rubio are interpreted in Havana as a direct threat of regime change, especially given Rubio's long-standing criticism of the rapprochement with Cuba and his advocacy for tightening sanctions against the island.
Cuban reactions and fears of "hegemony"
The Cuban response to these developments was swift, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez quickly condemning the US actions. In a comment following Trump's post, Rodríguez asserted that "right and justice are on Cuba's side," describing the United States on the "X" platform as acting as a "hegemonic, criminal power out of control." He added that these actions not only threaten peace in Cuba and the region but also pose a danger to global security.
These statements reflect the extreme anxiety within the corridors of power in Cuba, which fears that the next step by the US administration will be to target Havana directly, taking advantage of the momentum generated by the Venezuela operation and the presence of a figure like Marco Rubio at the head of US diplomacy.
