After Iran, US Eyes Cuba Policy Shift Amid Rising Tensions
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- The United States is reassessing its approach to Cuba following progress in Iran negotiations, with Vice President J.D. Vance confirming ongoing discussions led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Washington continues to pressure Cuba through sanctions while signaling potential diplomatic engagement, as tensions over economic conditions and political accusations persist.
- The prospect that Cuba could become the next focus of US foreign policy has grown, with both nations clashing over sanctions, sovereignty, and long-standing political disputes.
Jakarta — United States Vice President J.D. Vance said that Washington is still deliberating its approach toward Cuba, signaling that any concrete policy direction will fall under the authority of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“You’ll have to ask Marco Rubio about Cuba. We want the Cuban people to be happy and prosperous. We are currently in discussions with the Cuban government about how they can change their approach to achieve that,” Vance said during a press conference on Thursday (June 18).
His remarks came amid renewed attention on U.S.–Cuba relations following progress in negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that Cuba could be “next” on the administration’s foreign policy agenda once the Iran issue is resolved, though he has yet to outline specific measures or strategies.
In late May, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused Rubio of being one of the principal architects behind Washington’s continued pressure on Havana.
Earlier in January, the United States imposed tariffs on imports from countries supplying oil to Cuba and declared a state of emergency, citing alleged threats posed by the island nation to U.S. national security.
Cuban authorities have rejected these claims, arguing that Washington is exploiting energy sanctions to strangle the island’s economy and worsen living conditions for its population.
The measures have exacerbated fuel shortages across Cuba, disrupting electricity generation, transportation, food production, healthcare services, and the education sector.
In mid-May, the U.S. Department of Justice charged former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and five Cuban military officers over the 1996 downing of two aircraft linked to the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue.
Havana dismissed the charges as politically motivated provocation, maintaining that its actions were defensive responses to repeated violations of Cuban airspace by the group’s aircraft.
Indonesianpost.com | Antara
