Trump administration shifts Cuba strategy toward economic pressure

The Trump administration is increasingly focusing on sanctions and economic pressure rather than military action to challenge Cuba’s communist government, according to people familiar with the administration’s thinking cited by Bloomberg.

US policymakers are concentrating on cutting off revenue streams that support the Cuban government, with the aim of increasing pressure on the leadership, encouraging divisions within the ruling establishment and ultimately pushing Havana toward negotiations.

The shift comes as Washington considers ways to tighten existing restrictions on Cuba. The US trade embargo against the island has been in place since the early 1960s, but officials are now examining whether financial flows benefiting the Castro family and military-linked elites can be restricted further, Bloomberg reported.

One factor influencing the strategy is the absence of an obvious figure who could take control of Cuba during a potential political transition, according to people familiar with the discussions. This has reduced the appeal of a military operation aimed at removing the current leadership.

The approach also resembles Washington’s recent shift toward economic pressure in its policy toward Iran, moving away from an emphasis on direct military action.

A military option has not been completely ruled out, however. Bloomberg reported that it has been pushed into the background for now, with President Donald Trump’s unpredictability leaving open the possibility of a change in strategy.

Trump had previously suggested that Washington could turn its attention to Cuba after the conflict with Iran. But the prolonged Middle East war and its lack of popularity in the United States have made such a move increasingly difficult, according to the report.

The tightening of economic restrictions has also raised concerns about the humanitarian consequences. UN agencies have warned that additional restrictions could worsen shortages of food and medicine in Cuba.

Power outages are already affecting essential services, including hospitals and treatment for cancer patients.

By Sabina Mammadli