On Monday, 16th March, United States President Donald Trump, triggered a new controversy after declaring that he would have the “honour” of “taking Cuba,” while his administration is still deeply involved in the ongoing war with Iran. The conflict has already endangered global oil and gas supplies, as the Strait of Hormuz remains risky for cargo ships to pass.
When asked by a reporter, President Trump shared remarks about "taking Cuba" during an executive order signing on Monday.
— ABC News (@ABC) March 16, 2026
"They're a very weakened nation right now," he said. https://t.co/vnEktB0NTL pic.twitter.com/9cD16tjBjQ
During an executive order signing at the White House, Trump told reporters that Cuba is in a weak state and claimed he could “do anything” with it. He added that whether he “frees” the country or “takes” it, he sees himself in a position to act as he wants.
His comments come at a time when Cuba is facing a deep energy and economic crisis. The country is suffering from power outages, mainly due to a cutoff of oil supplies by the US, which is connected to Venezuela. The situation has worsened in recent weeks as Cuba has witnessed a blackout, where there was no electricity across the country.
Trump also hinted that the United States may step in after completing its current military focus on Iran. He has earlier called for regime change in other countries and has even spoken about a “friendly takeover” of Cuba.
The U.S. has taken several dramatic steps against Cuba, including cutting off oil supplies and putting pressure on Havana, which has contributed to the current crisis.
🇨🇺🇺🇸President Trump on CUBA:
— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) March 16, 2026
"Cuba is a failed nation. Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do."
"we're talking to Cuba, but we're going to do Iran before Cuba."
"They've been waiting 50 years for what's… pic.twitter.com/aMVexjEjpg
Despite the tension, both sides have confirmed that talks are ongoing. The Cuban government has agreed to hold negotiations but has also made it clear it will not compromise on its sovereignty. On the other hand, Trump referred to Cuba as a “failed nation” that has no resources but has valuable land.
Trump’s Iran gambit is under scrutiny now as he has himself admitted that he had not expected Iran to retaliate the way it did. Despite claiming dramatic wins, the US has suffered very significant high-value losses at its military bases in the Gulf due to Iranian retaliatory strikes. The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global energy trade passes, remains blocked due to US actions against Iran. Also, the US currently has no exit strategy in sight from the conflict in West Asia.
