US President Donald Trump declined to rule out possible military action against Cuba, adding a new layer of uncertainty to an already tense relationship between Washington and Havana.
Asked to compare such a scenario with the operation he authorized in Venezuela earlier in the year, Trump said Cuba's lack of oil distinguished it from Venezuela. When pressed on whether action remained possible, he answered that it was.
Trump emphasized Cuba's proximity to the United States and said the island was seeking talks. He also reaffirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio remained the senior official responsible for US policy toward Cuba.
Asked whether Washington had placed Cuba under a countdown after reaching an agreement with Iran, Trump described the timeline as flexible. His remarks stopped short of announcing a decision, timetable or specific military plan.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel had addressed the United States a day earlier, calling for Cuba to be allowed to trade, purchase medicines, import fuel and receive investment, credit and financing without external restrictions.
Díaz-Canel also rejected the idea that pressure on essential supplies could be presented as assistance to the Cuban population. He warned against the threat of military aggression while defending economic measures recently approved by the National Assembly.
The exchange reflects a sharp escalation in political rhetoric between the two governments. Trump's comments leave open a range of possible actions, while Cuba continues to frame US policy as an effort to intensify economic hardship and force political change.