US President Donald Trump has toughened his stance regarding Cuba. He described Cuba as a failed country and said that Washington is already in talks with Havana. Trump also indicated that either an agreement could be reached or America could take other action. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said that America thinks Cuba wants to make a compromise. However, he made it clear that at present the ongoing war with Iran is America’s first priority, only after that any major step will be taken on Cuba.

This statement of Trump has come at a time when Cuba is going through a deep economic and energy crisis. Increasing American pressure and interruptions in oil supply have worsened the situation there. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has also confirmed that talks are going on with the US. He expressed hope that dialogue could reduce tensions, but also said that Cuba would not compromise its sovereignty. On the other hand, Washington says that any improvement in relations is possible only if Cuba makes major political and economic changes.

Why did Cuba become Trump’s target?

After Trump’s statement, the question is being raised that after Iran, why has Cuba suddenly become America’s strategic target, while America is already embroiled in the Middle East crisis. Let us tell you why this might have happened –

1. Cuba has already been under American pressure. The Trump administration again put Cuba on America’s list of countries that support terrorism. After this decision, strict restrictions were automatically imposed on Cuba and its international financial access was limited. Apart from this, Washington also tightened restrictions on trade, travel and financial transactions, which further isolated Cuba’s economy. Due to this America is increasing pressure on it.
2. This strategy of America is considered to be part of a larger effort to take political and economic concessions from the Cuban communist government. By increasing sanctions and cutting off economic support, Washington wants to weaken the Cuban government, so that internal pressure increases and demands for reforms intensify. Cuba is already facing severe shortage of fuel, food items and electricity. In such a situation, observers say that America probably wants to take advantage of this weak situation and bend Havana for talks.
3. Cuba’s deep economic crisis is also a big reason. The country is going through the worst economic phase and there is a long-term fuel shortage, hour-long power cuts, severe shortage of food items and medicines. Reduction in oil supply and American sanctions have made the situation worse, its impact is clearly visible on the lives of common people.
4. Due to these worsening conditions, demonstrations have taken place from time to time in Cuba and public anger has increased. This has increased the pressure on the government of President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Critics in Havana believe that the US is seeing the current situation as an opportunity to extract concessions from Cuba or to pressure for political change. Trump has said several times that Cuba’s current government is struggling to maintain the system and that economic pressures may eventually force it to negotiate on American terms.
5. America also gives the argument of national security regarding Cuba. Trump administration officials say that Cuba has security and intelligence relations with many hostile countries of America, which can pose a strategic threat to American interests. Cuba, located just about 150 kilometers from Florida, has been viewed by Washington from a security perspective for a long time.

How are Cuba’s relations with America?

Cuba has long been close to governments that have been critical of America’s policies. Especially it has deep political, economic and security relations with Venezuela. Havana and Caracas have supported each other for decades and opposed US policies in the region. For this reason, Washington policy makers often consider Cuba an important pillar of the anti-American faction in Latin America. In such a situation, increasing pressure on Cuba is seen as an attempt to weaken that network and strengthen America’s influence again.

The tension between Cuba and America is historic

The tension in relations between Cuba and America is not new. It begins with the Cold War era, when after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the country increasingly leaned towards the Soviet camp under the leadership of Fidel Castro. Before the revolution, Cuba had close political and economic ties to the United States, but after Castro came to power, socialist reforms were implemented and the assets of American companies were nationalized. This was the reason why relations between the two countries deteriorated rapidly. In response, America adopted a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation, which laid the foundation for decades of hostility. These tensions reached a peak in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the Soviet Union secretly deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba. After this revelation, the world reached the brink of nuclear war and America imposed a naval blockade around Cuba and asked for the removal of missiles. The crisis was ultimately averted by talks between US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, but the incident forever made Cuba a center of conflict between Washington and its adversaries.