Politico: The U.S. Has Begun Regime Change In Yet Another Country
- 24.01.2026, 17:27
Trump is plotting to organize a naval blockade of Cuba.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a full embargo on oil imports to Cuba as one of the tools of pressure for regime change in the country. Three sources familiar with the discussions told Politico. According to them, the measure has not yet been approved, but is included among the options that could be used to overthrow Cuba's communist government.
According to two of the three sources, the initiative is being actively promoted by critics of the Cuban authorities inside the administration and has received the support of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. At the same time, there is an ongoing debate within the White House about the feasibility of such a radical step. The loss of Venezuelan oil supplies, as well as the loss of income from the resale of some of these volumes, which Havana used to obtain foreign currency, has already seriously weakened the Cuban economy. According to opponents of a full blockade, additional cutting off of oil imports could lead to a humanitarian crisis on the island.
The debate itself, however, demonstrates how deeply entrenched the Trump administration is in its determination to oust governments in Latin America that Washington considers hostile, Politico notes. One of the publication's interlocutors called energy a "stranglehold" that could lead to the fall of the regime in Cuba. He also said that in the White House's view, the overthrow of the Cuban leadership, which has been in power since the 1959 revolution, is seen as "one hundred percent a 2026 event." These actions, the source pointed out, could be justified under the provisions of the 1994 LIBERTAD Act, better known as the Helms-Burton Act, which enshrines the U.S. trade and financial embargo against Cuba.
The idea of cutting off Cuba's access to oil completely has already been publicly supported by hawkish Republicans. "Not a dime, not a dime of oil. Nothing should ever go to Cuba," said Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported earlier, citing knowledgeable sources, that the Trump administration is actively seeking a figure within the Cuban government who could help to topple the current regime before the end of 2026. According to Washington strategists, Cuba's economy is "on the verge of collapse" after losing support from Venezuela, and the government has never been more vulnerable. U.S. officials have been meeting with Cuban expatriates in Miami and Washington in search of a suitable candidate. However, as the publication noted, the White House has no concrete plan for a change of power in Cuba.
With this background, the U.S. State Department issued a statement in which it indicated that in the interests of America's national security it is necessary for Cuba to be governed by a "competent democratic government" that refuses to host military and intelligence services of "U.S. adversaries."