US seeks next leader of Cuba – NYT

Washington is reportedly seeking to repeat the Venezuela scenario in Cuba, but faces a tougher challenge

The Trump administration is looking for a new Cuban leader who can change Havana’s political course, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing current and former US officials.

Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has tightened the decades-old blockade of Cuba, threatening tariffs on countries that supply it with oil and saying he will take the country “one way or another.”

The unnamed officials told the NYT that the Trump administration has been searching for a current or former Cuban official who could be persuaded to take over the government. The White House has reportedly asked US intelligence agencies to identify someone in the mold of Delcy Rodriguez, who became Venezuela’s acting president after the US kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro in January.

The intelligence agencies have said Cuba is less like Venezuela and more like Iran, where the US has publicly stated its intention to change the regime but has so far failed to do so, the newspaper cited people briefed on the intelligence reports as saying.

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US officials told the NYT that few pragmatic officials would be willing to take power if US forces captured Raul Castro, the former Cuban president who still wields “enormous” political influence, or otherwise forced out the current leadership. Washington has reportedly oscillated between working with Cuba’s current government and developing plans to overthrow it.

In April, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel told RT that after more than 60 years of blockade and aggression, his country has “survived and made progress.” He added that Cubans are “ready to fight,” dismissing suggestions that the island could suffer the fate of Venezuela.

Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said earlier this year that Cuba’s armed forces were getting ready for a potential US invasion, calling it “naive” not to do so, “looking at what’s happening around the world.”

The White House is seeking to push Cuba toward a political course more favorable to Washington’s interests, while hoping that worsening economic conditions caused by mounting pressure will eventually trigger a change in leadership.

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The island nation, which has been under a US embargo since 1960, has faced daily blackouts and acute fuel shortages in recent months after Venezuela, once its main oil supplier, halted shipments under US pressure shortly after the abduction of Maduro.

UN officials warned earlier this year that US sanctions on Cuba had already caused acute shortages of essential medical supplies, while the latest fuel blockade doubled infant mortality on the island.

Russia, China, Mexico, and several other countries have been supplying Cuba with humanitarian aid. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said Moscow remains in solidarity with the Cuban government and people, pledging to continue providing political and diplomatic support as well as material assistance. In late March, Russia delivered around 700,000 barrels of crude oil.