Senator predicts Cuban government will be overthrown soon

In an interview on Tuesday, January 6, Republican Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) predicted that the Cuban government will be overthrown as early as this year. The comments come after US President Donald Trump predicted Cuba would fall, and as the U.S. blockade of oil exports from Venezuela is ramping up pressure on the communist Cuban regime. According to Scott, who is a close ally of Donald Trump, the Cuban government will be overthrown this year or next, and a democratic leader will be installed. According to Scott, current Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez's regime will end, and democracy will follow.

Donald Trump began talking about Cuba just hours after capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro was charged with Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machine guns and Destructive Devices, Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Possess Machine guns and Destructive Devices against the United States after dozens of US air strikes on naval vessels leaving Venezuela. Maduro pleaded ‘not guilty' to all charges, and is currently in a prison in the US alongside his wife.

Why Cuba?

There are many layers to why Donald Trump and the U.S. want to overthrow the Cuban government. To start, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez operated a communist government, a style of government America has been historically diametrically opposed to. Communism is still viewed as a threat to America by many American voters and politicians. Bermúdez also condemned the U.S. attack on Venezuela and capture of Maduro, calling the action ‘acts of state terrorism.' U.S. control of Venezuelan oil exports seriously impacts Cuba, which imports nearly a third of its oil from Venezuela. With Donald Trump threatening to cut off supply to Cuba, the country is potentially facing a dangerous lack of power.

Energy shortages and power blackouts have become common in Cuba. In September, Cuba's entire electrical grid failed, affecting nearly 10 million people, and over the past 12 months, it has suffered a dozen nationwide outages. Its malfunctioning energy network has taken another hit thanks to the U.S. naval blockade on Venezuela, which has limited shipments to Cuba. Now, with the U.S. completely in control of Venezuela's oil, Venezuelan citizens are worried the country's energy shortage will only worsen. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had a close relationship with Cuba, with Venezuela frequently aiding the nearby nation during power outages and blackouts.

Next steps for Trump

After his operation in Venezuela was successful, it's safe to assume Trump won't be opposed to taking similar action in Cuba, a country with a long history of tensions with the U.S. In Venezuela, the U.S. began with airstrikes on the capital city before dropping into Maduro's residence and taking the leader and his wife. It's likely Trump would be willing to employ similar tactics in Cuba, especially with the obvious pride that Trump has taken in the successful operation. Trump has claimed that the U.S. could run Venezuela for the next five years, and it's safe to say that his focus will remain on Venezuela for most of the year.