The Trump administration has intensified its energy quarantine against Cuba, aiming to destabilize the communist government, which experts believe is at a breaking point. This policy is severely impacting the island’s 10 million residents, exacerbating a decades-long economic crisis, leading to critical shortages of water, food, and medicine. Sebastián Arcos, interim director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University, notes widespread epidemics and increasing repression as the regime feels cornered. He expressed doubt that the Cuban government, despite its historical resilience, can survive this current pressure. President Trump himself hinted at a potential “friendly takeover” of Cuba, drawing parallels to the U.S. approach in Venezuela.
At the forefront of the administration’s strategy is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reportedly engaged in diplomatic talks with Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, grandson and bodyguard of Raúl Castro, the de facto leader. Raúl Guillermo Rodriguez Castro is believed to control GAESA, a powerful military-run conglomerate that manages a significant portion of Cuba’s economy, with reported assets of $18 billion. This meeting reportedly occurred on the sidelines of the Caricom regional conference in St. Kitts and Nevis. Rubio clarified that while Cuba “needs to change,” the Trump administration is not demanding immediate, wholesale regime change, suggesting a more gradual path.
Concurrently, the United States and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Secretary Rubio notified senior congressional leaders, known as the “Gang of Eight,” prior to the strikes. President Trump monitored the situation from Mar a Lago and spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu. This action sparked immediate criticism from lawmakers such as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who questioned the legality of military action without formal congressional authorization, highlighting a contentious debate over presidential war powers.
The notification process to the “Gang of Eight”—comprising leadership from both chambers and intelligence committee heads—is a common practice that presidents have interpreted as fulfilling the requirement of the 1947 National Security Act to keep Congress “fully informed,” despite calls for broader congressional approval. Amidst this debate, Rubio also announced that Iran had been designated a state sponsor of wrongful detention. He cited an executive order signed by Trump and the subsequent Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025, warning of further measures against Iran, including potential geographic travel restrictions on U.S. passports to, through, or from the country if it fails to cease these activities.
