Trump hints at opening up Cuba
Washington, May 21
President Donald Trump on Thursday signalled a possible shift in long-standing US policy towards Cuba, saying he wanted to help revive the island nation and allow Cuban Americans to return and invest there.
Trump dismissed suggestions that the recent deployment of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier near Cuba was meant to intimidate Havana. Instead, he described Cuba as a "failed country" facing severe economic hardship and said his administration wanted to support the Cuban people.
"No, not at all," Trump said when asked whether the aircraft carrier's arrival was intended as a warning to the Cuban government. "Cuba - look, it's a failed country. Everybody knows it. They don't have electricity. They don't have money. They don't have anything. They don't have food."
Trump said the United States was prepared to help Cuba "on a humanitarian basis" and repeatedly praised the Cuban American community in Florida.
"We have the Cuban American population, much of it living in Miami, in Florida. That's a great group of people, amazing group of people, industrious, they're great Americans," he said.
The President added that many Cuban Americans wanted to reconnect economically with the island.
"They want to go back to their country. They want to help their country," Trump said. "They want to invest in their country and see if they can bring it back."
Trump suggested that previous administrations had failed to fundamentally alter US-Cuba relations despite decades of efforts fundamentally. "Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years doing something, and it looks like I'll be the one who does it," he said.
He also said his administration wanted to "open it up to Cuban Americans where they can go back and help".
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting timing - an aircraft carrier and then suddenly humanitarian concern? As an Indian, I find this suspicious. We've seen how the US "helps" countries economically only to control them later. Just look at what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cuba needs respect, not more American intervention. We should stand with developing nations against such pressure tactics.
Honestly, the embargo hasn't worked for 60 years. If Trump can actually normalize relations and help Cuban people, that's a good thing. But I'm skeptical - his approach with the carrier seems contradictory. The Cuban American community has strong opinions on both sides. Let's see if he follows through or if this is just election talk.
As someone who studied US-Latin America relations, this is pure political theater. Trump could have acted on Cuba policy years ago. Why now? Miami is a swing state and his poll numbers are dropping. Also, "failed country" coming from a nation that had a literal insurrection at its Capitol? Please. India should maintain its independent foreign policy and not get caught up in US election games.
Good on Trump for recognizing we need a new approach. The Cuban people have suffered under communism for decades. If opening up investment can help them, I'm all for it. But he should be careful not to strengthen the Castro government. Cuban Americans have waited long enough to help their homeland.
Seems like Trump is just trying to distract from domestic issues. Economy, inflation, healthcare - all problems at home and he's talking about Cuba? Classic deflection.
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