Donald Trump suggested the possibility of a military operation in Cuba after U.S. forces “finish the job” in Iran
Donald Trump suggested the possibility of a military operation in Cuba after U.S. forces “finish the job” in Iran. The remarks come as Washington announced on Friday a new set of sanctions against the Havana regime, measures Cuba condemned as a form of collective punishment, Euronews reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump joked that the U.S. Navy would “take care of Cuba as well” on its way back from Iran.
He made the comments during a speech at an event organized by the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, where he was the keynote guest.
Trump said the U.S. military would “take control” of Cuba almost immediately, raising concerns that the United States could become involved in another military conflict this year.
“Now Cuba has problems too. First, we finish one of the jobs. I like to finish what I start. On the way back, after we do what we have to do… on the way back from Iran, we’ll send one of our big aircraft carriers, maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln, the biggest in the world. It will stop about 100 meters from the shore, and they’ll say, ‘Thank you very much. We surrender,’” Trump said.
For months, Trump has been suggesting that military intervention in Cuba could be considered, while his administration has continued its attacks on Havana’s leadership following Washington’s dramatic intervention in Venezuela in January, which led to the removal and capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
The U.S. president accused Cuba of sending security personnel to protect Maduro’s alleged drug-trafficking operations in exchange for payments and oil shipments, which Washington cut off after the January 3 operation.
Since then, the island has been facing a severe fuel crisis that has paralyzed numerous sectors of the economy and heavily affected the healthcare system.
On Friday, Trump ordered new sanctions against Havana, targeting a wide range of individuals and entities in the communist-led state and also threatening foreign banks that work with them.
U.S. withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany after Merz said the U.S. had been “humiliated” by Iran
The United States is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, while U.S. President Donald Trump also threatened Italy and Spain for failing to contribute to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed since the war in the Middle East began, The Guardian, Sky News, and Reuters report.
The White House leader’s decision to reduce the number of troops stationed in Germany came after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the United States had been “humiliated” by Iran.
Trump had already threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from the country following the remarks made by the official in Berlin.
German rhetoric described as “inappropriate and counterproductive”
A senior Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Germany’s recent rhetoric had been “inappropriate and counterproductive.”
As efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Iran remain stalled, the U.S. president is attacking his traditional European allies, accusing them of lacking support for the offensive launched at the end of February against the Islamic Republic, AFP notes.
After announcing that he would increase tariffs targeting the European Union’s auto industry, his administration indicated that it was considering a withdrawal corresponding to roughly 15% of the approximately 36,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany.
Germany hosts the largest U.S. military base in Europe and serves as a key training hub.
“We expect the withdrawal to be completed within the next six to twelve months,” Defense Ministry spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.
What Merz said
The German leader said on Monday that “the Americans apparently have no strategy” in Iran and that Tehran was “humiliating” the world’s leading power.
“He thinks it is okay for Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about!” Donald Trump responded on Tuesday.
Without responding directly, Friedrich Merz called on Thursday for “a reliable transatlantic partnership.”
Tariffs on EU cars
On Friday, Trump also indirectly targeted Germany and its major automobile exports, announcing that he wanted to raise tariffs on vehicles imported into the United States from the European Union to 25% “next week.”
He accused the EU of failing to respect the trade agreement reached last summer, while the validation process for that agreement has not yet been completed within the bloc of 27 member states.
The Union “is implementing the commitments it made” to Washington “in accordance with normal legislative practices, while keeping the U.S. government fully informed throughout the process,” its delegation in Washington said in response to AFP.
If the United States does not uphold its side of the agreement, the delegation added, “we will keep all options open to protect the EU’s interests.”
