Trump Says US and Cuba Could Reach Agreement Without Military Action

Havana, Cuba, amid renewed diplomatic tensions between Washington and Havana. Photo credit: Luca Nebuloni/Wikimedia commons.

WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump has said he expects the United States and Cuba to reach an agreement and indicated that military action may not be necessary despite continuing tensions between Washington and Havana.

Trump made the comments on Saturday while speaking with reporters at the White House. He said he believed the two countries could reach a deal and that the United States would seek to help Cuba.

The remarks come at a time of heightened pressure between the two governments. The Trump administration has openly said that changing Cuba’s government is one of its objectives, while Washington has continued economic pressure on Havana.

A U.S. oil blockade imposed earlier this year has added to Cuba’s economic difficulties, with fuel shortages and electricity problems putting additional pressure on the country’s aging infrastructure.

Trump’s comments nevertheless suggested that Washington does not currently expect military action to be necessary to achieve its objectives.

The issue was also discussed at the United Nations General Assembly. Trump had sharply criticized Cuba during his UN address earlier in the week, prompting the Cuban delegation to leave the hall during his remarks.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez later said at the UN that Cuba remained open to dialogue with the United States. He also criticized the long-running U.S. trade embargo.

The latest statements do not represent a formal agreement between Washington and Havana. No details of a potential deal have been announced by either government.

For now, Trump’s comments indicate that diplomatic or political negotiations remain possible even as economic pressure on Cuba continues.

Source: Reuters.