The administration of United States President Donald Trump, encouraged by the overthrow of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, is actively seeking collaborators within the Cuban authorities who could help bring down the Cuban regime by the end of the year, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) learned today from sources familiar with the plan.
Trump and his inner circle, many with ties to Florida, view the toppling of the Cuban communist regime as a key test of a national security strategy to reshape the Western Hemisphere, the New York-based newspaper reports.
U.S. officials assess that the Cuban economy is on the verge of collapse and that the government has never been more vulnerable, especially after the loss of a key ally in Maduro.
Although there is still no concrete plan to end the communist rule that has governed the Caribbean island for nearly seven decades, U.S. officials see Maduro’s arrest and the accompanying concessions by his allies as a possible model and warning for Cuba.
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In talks with Cuban exiles and non-governmental organizations in Miami and Washington, U.S. officials focused on identifying individuals within the current Cuban government who would grasp the seriousness of the situation and be willing to negotiate, WSJ reports.
Although the United States has not publicly threatened military force in Cuba, U.S. officials reportedly believe that the bold operation in Venezuela should serve as a direct threat to Havana.
U.S. intelligence assessments point to a severe economic situation on the island, with chronic shortages of basic goods, medicines, and frequent power outages.
Cuba has long depended on subsidized Venezuelan oil to provide it with energy, and the U.S. plans to weaken the regime by pressuring supply chains, WSJ adds.
The U.S. administration is also targeting Cuban medical missions abroad, a key source of foreign currency for Havana, including visa bans for Cuban and foreign officials linked to the program.
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Source: Euronews; Foto: Reuters



