Trump looks for Cuba’s next leaders among loyal politicians
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
The administration of US President Donald Trump is looking for a current or former Cuban official who could lead the government in Havana in the event of political change on the island. Washington is intensifying its pressure campaign against the Cuban authorities and is considering scenarios that go beyond routine policy adjustments, according to The New York Times and Miami Herald.
According to US media, Washington is considering the possibility of a change in Cuba's leadership, and the newly created covert CIA task force may be linked to preparing influence operations or other measures against the island's current authorities.
The Donald Trump administration has tasked US intelligence agencies with identifying potential representatives of the Cuban authorities who could serve as an alternative to the country's current leadership.
According to The New York Times, US officials describe this approach not as an attempt to simply change individual elements of Havana's policy, but as a broader plan for political transformation.
In Washington, the publication reports, officials were looking for a figure similar to Delcy Rodríguez in Venezuela, who became the country's interim president after US forces removed the previous leader, Nicolás Maduro.
At the same time, the Miami Herald reports the creation of a new covert CIA task force focused on Cuba. Former senior US intelligence official Mark Polimeropoulos stated that the establishment of such a structure could signal preparations for possible military action or influence operations.
The former CIA official said that covert action does not mean a coup. It could mean influence operations.
According to him, the allocation of additional resources to the Cuban direction indicates that Washington has set a specific goal, rather than merely gathering intelligence for analytical reports.
The US administration has also, according to media reports, been in contact with the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro — Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro. Washington reportedly sought to find opportunities to replace current Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who is considered a hardliner.
Context
As early as January 2026, the US imposed a strict oil blockade on Cuba. Washington completely blocked fuel and oil shipments from Venezuela to the island, triggering a deep energy crisis and widespread blackouts. A few days ago, Cuba remained without electricity for nearly two days. The island's authorities linked the large-scale blackout to US sanctions, calling such actions genocidal.
According to Axios, Cuba had purchased 300 drones that could be directed toward US bases. Russia and Iran are said to be possible exporters of the unmanned systems.
Additionally, international companies are leaving Cuba, dealing another blow to the island's crumbling economy.
