US President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that the United States could turn its attention to Cuba after a war with Iran.Speaking at a reception at the White House, Trump said his administration wanted to “fix” and “end” the situation in Iran first, but indicated that Cuba could be addressed later.
He said, “We want to fix this, end this first – but it’s just going to be a question of time before you have a lot of incredible people going back to Cuba.”Addressing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Miami-born son of Cuban immigrants, Trump said, “You’re doing a great job in a place called Cuba.”He said, “What’s happening with Cuba is amazing, and we think we want to end it first, but it’s just going to be a question of time before you have a lot of incredible people going back to Cuba.” “Hopefully, won’t have to wait.”Washington has imposed an energy blockade on the Communist-ruled island, sharply reducing its fuel supplies. This step was taken after the US capture of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, Cuba’s main oil supplier.No oil has been imported to the island since January 9, according to AFP, forcing airlines to cut flights and worsening the country’s long-running economic crisis.Trump’s comments have raised concerns among many in Cuba that the island could be next on Washington’s list of foreign interventions, especially after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran that killed the country’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.Both Trump and Rubio have previously expressed support for regime change in Havana.