Trump Administration Seeks Pro-US Leader in Cuba, NYT Reports
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The Trump administration is searching for a new leader in Cuba who is aligned with Washington, according to a New York Times report. U.S. officials are reportedly vetting current Cuban officials who could take power if Raúl Castro is removed. American intelligence agencies warn that finding a suitable figure is far more difficult than in Venezuela, where a similar strategy led to the installation of interim leader Delsy Rodríguez after the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro in January.
The Search for a Successor
The Trump administration is exploring options to replace Cuba’s leadership with a figure sympathetic to U.S. interests, The New York Times reported. U.S. officials are said to be reviewing current Cuban officials, seeking a pragmatist who could assume power following a potential operation to remove former President Raúl Castro. The effort mirrors a strategy employed in Venezuela earlier this year, where U.S. forces arrested President Nicolás Maduro and installed former Vice President Delsy Rodríguez as interim leader.
Intelligence Concerns
U.S. intelligence agencies caution that replicating the Venezuelan scenario in Cuba faces steep obstacles. Assessments indicate that Cuba’s political elite is more radicalized and bears closer resemblance to Iran’s power structure, with fewer officials willing or prepared to seize control in the event of a leadership vacuum. Even if Castro were removed, analysts warn that local elites might not step into the breach, risking prolonged instability.
What's Next
The Trump administration is expected to intensify intelligence operations to identify and cultivate potential successors within the Cuban regime. It remains unclear whether any Cuban official possesses both the willingness and the capacity to take power under U.S. auspices, leaving the plan’s viability in question.
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Trump Administration Seeks Pro-US Leader in Cuba, NYT Reports
