US President, Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the US could take control of Cuba “almost immediately,” describing the island nation as being “in trouble”, Fox News reported.

Speaking to reporters, the president linked potential future actions against Havana to the ongoing war with Iran, noting that Washington must first “finish one thing” before shifting focus to Cuba.

Trump outlined a scenario where a US aircraft carrier could move from the Middle East to the Cuban coast, suggesting that such a demonstration of force alone would compel the Cuban government to capitulate.

While the White House did not clarify if these remarks reflect official policy, the administration has already implemented a naval blockade of the island, which is currently struggling with massive power outages due to severe fuel and energy shortages.

Simultaneously, according to Bloomberg, Trump signed an executive order imposing new sanctions against high-ranking Cuban officials and entities accused of supporting the regime’s security forces, corruption, or human rights violations.

This move grants the State Department and Treasury expanded powers to enforce tighter economic restrictions.

The escalation follows reports from the US State Department indicating that Cuba may be complicit in Russia’s war against Ukraine. An unclassified report sent to Congress estimated that between 1,000 and 5,000 Cuban nationals are fighting for Moscow, making them one of the largest identifiable groups of foreign fighters supporting Russian operations.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has rejected the mounting US pressure, warning that there is “no justification” for an attack and stating that the country will defend itself.

This confrontation marks one of the gravest tests for the Cuban political system since the 1959 revolution, as the nation faces synchronized economic hardship and the threat of direct military confrontation.