Trump mentions possibility of 'friendly takeover' of Cuba

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump on Friday mentioned the possibility of a "friendly takeover" of Cuba, telling reporters at the White House that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is handling the issue at a "very high level," Reuters reported.

"The Cuban government is talking to us and they are in big trouble," Trump said as he left the White House for Texas. "They don't have money. They don't have anything right now, but they are talking to us and we might have a friendly takeover of Cuba."

Trump described Cuba as a failed nation that needs change, adding that he has been hearing about the country's problems since childhood.

"I can see it happening. Marco Rubio is handling it, and it's at a very high level," he said. "They don't have money, they don't have oil, they don't have food. And right now, it's really a nation in big trouble and they want our help."

The Cuban government said it is not holding any high-level talks with the United States, but did not directly deny press reports that US officials might be in informal talks with Raul Guillermon Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban President Raul Castro.

Axios reported this month that Rubio had held secret talks with the grandson of the former Cuban leader. US officials close to Rubio met again with the grandson on the sidelines of this week's Caribbean Community regional conference in St. Kitts and Nevis, the Miami Herald reported on Thursday.

Tensions with Cuba have escalated after Cuban forces killed four exiles and wounded six others this week who sailed into Cuban waters in a Florida-registered speedboat and opened fire on a Cuban patrol. Rubio denied it was a US operation and said no US government personnel were involved.

The incident occurred as the United States blocked virtually all oil shipments to Cuba, increasing pressure on the communist government. Last month, US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, removing a key Cuban ally from power.

Rubio has criticized the Cuban government in recent weeks, calling the status quo there unsustainable and saying Cuba needs to "change dramatically."

Cuban exiles, largely concentrated in Miami, have long dreamed of overthrowing the Cuban government or seeing it fall, and have conspired against the government established by the late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in the past.

Trump mentioned the large Cuban community, saying a US takeover of Cuba could be "something good... very positive" for the people who were expelled from the country.

"There are people living here who want to return to Cuba and are very happy with what is happening," he said.