U.S. President Donald Trump on the 27th (local time) hinted at the possibility of using force against Cuba, following Iran. He said he made the U.S. military great and sometimes needs to use it, adding, "Cuba is next." Some raised the possibility that this is pressure to accept U.S. demands.
Trump said this in a speech at the Future Investment Initiative summit held in Miami, Florida, on the day. The event was hosted by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund. At the venue, Trump left open the possibility of mobilizing military force against Cuba, following Venezuela and Iran.
Earlier, foreign media reported that the United States is demanding the resignation of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the Cuban government was said to have formally rejected the demand. Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, is currently said to be negotiating with the Cuban government.
Trump expressed dissatisfaction toward North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies on the day. "It was a tremendous mistake that NATO did not help us," he said, adding, "We spend hundreds of billions of dollars every year on NATO and would always have been by their side, but now, in light of their actions, it seems unnecessary."
Earlier, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, sending oil prices soaring, and NATO effectively refused to dispatch warships to the strait. Trump's remarks are also interpreted as a signal that the United States will reduce its contribution for NATO collective defense expenditure.
Trump said he is negotiating with Iran and pressed that the Strait of Hormuz must be opened. "They are negotiating and eager to reach a deal," Trump said. Iran initially denied the talks, but allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, he explained.
He said, "As it turned out, I was right," adding, "They were in talks and admitted it two days later." He continued, "To make up for their wrong statements, they first said they would let eight tankers go and then said they would add two more, making a total of 10."