The Kabul Tribune (KT) — CNN reported that critics and analysts are questioning why the administration of Donald Trump would consider escalating tensions with Cuba despite the political and military risks involved.
According to the report, the Trump administration is seeking
a major foreign policy victory at a time when efforts to end conflicts
involving Iran, Ukraine and the war in Gaza Strip have faced setbacks.
CNN said Trump may view a political breakthrough in Cuba as
an opportunity for historic recognition, particularly after decades of failed
efforts by previous U.S. administrations dating back to John F. Kennedy and the
era of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
The report also highlighted the role of Marco Rubio,
describing the son of Cuban immigrants as a longtime advocate for policies
aimed at weakening the government in Havana.
CNN said the administration’s broader regional strategy,
described by some analysts as the “Donroe Doctrine,” seeks to increase U.S. influence
across the Western Hemisphere. The report linked the approach to Washington’s
support for right-wing political movements in Latin America and recent actions
involving Venezuela.
The report noted that U.S. administrations have long
expressed concerns about alleged espionage activities in Cuba involving
countries such as Russia and China.
CNN also stated that while Cuban civilians have faced
economic hardship and political repression for decades, critics accuse the
Trump administration of using harsh economic pressure that has worsened
humanitarian conditions on the island. The report referenced warnings by U.N.
experts that U.S. sanctions and oil restrictions have affected electricity
generation, transportation, hospitals and food production.
At the same time, Rubio defended the administration’s
policy, saying in a video message that Cuba’s shortages of electricity, fuel
and food are the result of corruption and mismanagement by the country’s
leadership.
CNN concluded that although both Cuba and Iran continue to
face pressure from the Trump administration, neither government has collapsed,
while the humanitarian consequences of sanctions and economic restrictions
continue to grow.
