President Donald Trump announced that the United States would "take control" of Cuba almost immediately during a speech in Florida [1].

This escalation signals a potential shift toward regime change in the Caribbean, marking a significant departure from traditional diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Trump spoke in Florida on May 2, 2026 [1]. He framed the Cuban government as a threat to U.S. national security and said the regime must be changed to protect American interests [2, 3].

"Tomaremos el control de Cuba casi inmediatamente," Trump said [1].

The rhetoric follows a series of rapid developments. The U.S. government announced new sanctions targeting Cuban sectors on May 1, 2026 [2]. That same day, mass protests occurred on the island during Labor Day [4].

Cuban leadership responded to the threats. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said these threats are dangerous and without precedent [5]. He described the U.S. posture as an unprecedented risk to the region.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also addressed the situation. "No nos dejamos amedrentar," Rodríguez said [6].

Reports on the nature of the U.S. plan vary. Some sources describe the threat as an imminent invasion, while others state the focus is on taking control rather than a full military invasion [1, 7]. Additionally, reports differ on whether the U.S. intends to station an aircraft carrier off the coast of the island [4, 2].

“"Tomaremos el control de Cuba casi inmediatamente."”

The combination of targeted sanctions and explicit threats of control suggests a strategy of maximum pressure intended to destabilize the current Cuban government. By aligning these announcements with domestic unrest on the island, the U.S. administration is attempting to leverage internal volatility to force a political transition.