A staged strategy aims to squeeze Cuba’s communist regime while avoiding immediate regime collapse. The approach is designed to create time for the president to focus on other foreign policy priorities, including peace talks with Iran. Administration officials describe using a deep toolbox, especially sanctions and enforcement, with additional measures planned. The broader goal is to eliminate Latin America’s source of Marxist agitation and anti-U.S. activism linked to the 1959 Cuban revolution. The campaign first targeted Cuba’s lifeline through Venezuela by disrupting oil shipments that had powered Cuba and provided export revenue. After a U.S. raid seized Venezuela’s leader, free oil shipments stopped, triggering a new Cuban economic crisis. The U.S. conducts military preparation through a multiagency tabletop exercise, keeping all options open while stating no invasion is planned or imminent.
"“The best way to describe it is 'accelerationism,' ” one senior administration official said, referring to the philosophy of hastening societal collapse. “But we don't want to kill off the regime just yet. There's a method to this. It's in stages.”"
"Zoom in: This methodical squeezing of Cuba's communist regime is also designed to buy time for Trump - who's now engrossed in peace talks with Iran - to eventually focus on Cuba and decide how to bring about change there. “Iran's not finished, and the president is not in a rush,” said another senior administration official. “Trump wants to exhaust all the levers that he can. But at this point, there aren't as many levers as before.”"
"Said a third senior administration official: “We have a pretty deep toolbox, especially when it comes to sanctions and enforcing them. More is on the way.” The big picture: The Cuba operation aims to eliminate Latin America's source of Marxist agitation and anti-U.S. activism ever since Fidel and Raul Castro led their successful revolution in 1959."
"Maduro, who'd been indicted in the U.S. on “narco-terrorism” charges in 2020, was seized in a daring U.S. raid Jan. 3. After that, Venezuela's free oil shipments stopped, plunging Cuba into a new economic crisis. The U.S. blames Cuba for its economic woes. Cuba blames the U.S."
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