Overview
- President Donald Trump told reporters the Cuban government is talking with the U.S. and suggested the U.S. could pursue a “friendly takeover of Cuba.”
- Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio is negotiating with Cuban officials “at a very high level,” though he offered no details on what a takeover would entail.
- Havana has publicly denied being in high‑level talks, while acknowledging communications with U.S. officials tied to this week’s speedboat incident.
- Cuban authorities say four people were killed and six injured after a Florida‑registered boat opened fire on Cuban forces; a U.S. official said at least one American was among the dead as DHS and the Coast Guard investigate.
- The comments follow intensified U.S. pressure on Cuba’s fuel lifelines, including a January order threatening tariffs on oil suppliers and steps to channel limited fuel sales to Cuba’s private sector, drawing humanitarian warnings from civil society groups and pushback from Cuban officials.