Donald Trump said he was considering a "friendly acquisition" of Cuba, without specifying the terms of such an operation, at a time when Washington is putting pressure on the leaders of the communist island state, reported "Reuters" and AFP, quoted by BTA.
"The Cuban government is negotiating with us and, as you know, they have very big problems. They have no money, right now they have nothing, but they are negotiating with us and maybe we will witness a friendly acquisition of Cuba," the US president told the media as he left the White House on his way to Texas.
I see this happening. "(Secretary of State) Marco Rubio is dealing with this at a very high level," the president said, adding: "They have no money, they have no oil, they have no food. And right now, a nation is in great trouble and they need our help."
Trump described Cuba as a failed state that needs change, adding that he had been hearing about the country's problems since he was a little boy.
Rubio said on Wednesday that Cuba needed to "radically change," shortly after the United States eased its restrictions on oil exports to the island, which is struggling with a severe economic crisis, on humanitarian grounds.
The United States has imposed an energy blockade on Cuba since January, citing the "exceptional threat" for the US national security, which is the communist island, located only about 150 km off the coast of Florida.
According to the "Miami Herald", American officials close to the Secretary of State met on Wednesday with Raul Rodriguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro, as part of a summit of Caribbean leaders. He does not hold an official position in the Cuban government, but is considered an influential figure on the island.
"Axios" already reported last week that Marco Rubio, born in the US but with Cuban parents, had conversations with Raul Rodriguez Castro, thus bypassing the Cuban government, AFP notes.