Published May 28, 2026, 6:32 PM EDT
A U.S. invasion of Cuba could have nefarious effects across Latin America, a historian warns.
Tensions are rising between Cuba and the United States, as heightened rhetoric from officials in Washington and Havana shows a potential clash that one historian said could result in long-term diplomatic divisions. The U.S. has indicated that all options remain on the table regarding Cuba. As the United States’ efforts regarding Venezuela and the removal of President Nicolás Maduro were tied to national security and narco-trafficking, and how the war in Iran was centered around prevention of nuclear weapons, concerns involving Cuba have been relayed as detrimental to U.S. national security. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that having a failed state some 90 miles from American shores poses such concerns. Specifically, he mentioned that risks posed by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces-operated business conglomerate Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA)—which, according to reports, controls roughly 70% of the island’s economy—do not help the majority of Cubans. “Cuba is in a lot of trouble because, unfortunately for them, it’s run by a bunch of incompetent communists,” Rubio said. “Being a communist is bad, being an incompetent communist is like the worst.” What Rubio did not mention was also notable. There were no remarks made regarding Raúl Castro, who was indicted last week for his alleged involvement in the fatal 1996 shoot-down of two unarmed U.S. Brothers to the Rescue civilian aircraft, also known as Hermanos al Rescate, over international waters.
