Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Trump ramps up Cuba campaign to force surrender or collapse
President Trump of the United States is putting a lot of pressure on a country called Cuba.
Cuba is an island near the US where the government is run by one political party.
The US wants Cuba's leaders to give up power or change how they run the country.
To make that happen, the US sent more spies to Cuba to learn secrets and find people who might help.
The US also stopped ships from bringing fuel to Cuba, so the country now has big blackouts.
People in Cuba do not have enough electricity for everyday life.
Earlier, the US did similar things to another country, Venezuela, and its leader was removed.
Now some people think the US might do the same thing in Cuba.
Cuban leaders say they will make some money changes, but they will not give up their political power.
Cuba's president is Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the powerful Castro family still has a lot of influence there.
The Trump administration has ramped up intelligence activities against Cuba, sending more spies and CIA assets to the island, according to Politico.
The intelligence moves mirror the steps taken before the US invasion of Venezuela earlier this year.
The US has blockaded Cuba's ports for months, depriving it of fuel imports and causing a severe energy crisis with widespread electricity cuts.
A source said the heightened intelligence activities could lay groundwork for a US invasion of Cuba, though the outline of any military action has not been finalised.
Cuba's government is open to economic policy changes, including foreign investment, but will not alter the country's political system, according to interlocutors.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump and his administration, acting against Cuba's communist government led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
- What
- The US ramped up intelligence activities and a pressure campaign against Cuba, including a port blockade, to force the regime's capitulation or collapse.
- When
- During Trump's second term; the escalation was reported by Politico this year, after months of the US blockade.
- Where
- Cuba and the United States, with the campaign mirroring steps taken against Venezuela earlier this year.
- Why
- To force Cuba's one-party communist regime to surrender or collapse, following the toppling of Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela.
US Pressure Campaign View
Cuban Government View
Path to regime change
US Pressure Campaign View
The US should escalate intelligence, maintain the blockade and pressure campaign to force Cuba's communist regime to capitulate or collapse, following the Venezuela playbook.
Cuban Government View
Cuba is open to implementing economic policy changes, including opening the country to foreign investment, but will not alter its political system.
Prospects of military action
US Pressure Campaign View
Heightened intelligence activities could lay the groundwork for a US invasion of Cuba, just as similar moves preceded the Venezuela invasion.
Cuban Government View
The outline of any military action has not been finalised, and the US is pursuing a coercive campaign alongside talks with the Cuban regime.
- Target
- Cuba
- Reporting outlet
- Politico
- Key actions
- More spies and CIA assets deployed to Cuba; heightened aerial surveillance
- Precedent
- Steps taken before the US invasion of Venezuela earlier this year
- Blockade impact
- Severe energy crisis with widespread electricity cuts after months of port blockade
- Cuban government stance
- Open to economic policy changes and foreign investment, but refuses to alter the political system
- Cuban leader
- President Miguel Díaz-Canel, in office since 2018; Castro family retains considerable influence
- Trump warning
- Wrote on X that the US military would be 'taking over [Cuba] almost immediately'