President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to Cuba, declaring that the Caribbean island nation is 'at the end of the line' and experiencing its 'last moments of life.' The remarks were made during a Saturday speech in Florida, where leaders from several Latin American nations gathered at his Doral resort.
Trump unveiled a new coalition called 'The Shield of the Americas,' aimed at bolstering security across the Western Hemisphere. Kristi Noem has been appointed as a special envoy for the initiative, following her dismissal as Homeland Security secretary.
Speaking at the summit, Trump said he is 'looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba' and described the country, under communist rule since 1959, as having no money, no oil, and a 'bad philosophy.' He added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will 'take one hour off and finish up a deal on Cuba,' calling it 'an easy one.'
Since returning to office, Trump has taken an aggressive posture towards Cuba, imposing steep tariffs and threatening duties on countries that export oil to the island. He has urged the communist state to 'make a deal' or face unspecified repercussions. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has criticised the administration's hostile rhetoric, stating that 'Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation' and that his government is 'ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood.'
During the summit, Trump also signed a proclamation affirming his commitment to dismantling terrorist organisations and cartels in the Western Hemisphere, with 17 nations endorsing the effort through a joint security declaration. The new initiative comes as the Trump administration has demonstrated its willingness to take military action across the hemisphere, including strikes in Ecuador and the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Critics, including Democrats and some Republicans, have slammed the recent military actions as illegal and reckless, accusing Trump of betraying his campaign pledge to be a 'candidate of peace.' The White House has defended the actions as necessary to protect Americans from imminent threats. Recent polls show that only one in four Americans supports Trump's strikes on Iran.
