The Trump administration is pursuing regime change in Cuba by the end of 2026, marking a sharp escalation in U.S. pressure on Havana after decades of hostile relations. U.S. officials say the effort has gained momentum following the early January capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, a development that cut off a critical source of oil and financial support for Cuba.
For years, Havana relied heavily on subsidized Venezuelan energy in exchange for providing security and intelligence services to Caracas. In a statement, the State Department said it is in the U.S. national security interest for Cuba “to be competently run by a democratic government and to refuse to host our adversaries’ military and intelligence services.” The Trump administration is now looking to exploit Cuba’s economic vulnerability, exacerbated by the loss of Venezuelan support, to push for a political transition.
