A “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba?

Mar 2, 2026

The Trump administration said it will ease up somewhat on its blockade to Cuba, letting some oil in. The U.S. government also said it will send a small amount of money to Cuba because of the humanitarian crisis there.

There certainly is a humanitarian and economic crisis in Cuba! A crisis caused by actions of the Trump administration! Immediately after its attack on Venezuela, the U.S. government enforced a blockade of all oil going to Cuba. Cuba uses oil to produce much of its energy and electricity, and so Trump’s blockade has led to long power blackouts and food shortages. Hospitals have had to reduce their medical care.

It is not clear if the latest moves by the U.S. government will ease any of this crisis, or if it is even meant to do that. But it is clear that the U.S. government plans to continue to intervene in Cuba and will try to dictate to Cuba. When Trump said that some oil will be allowed back into Cuba, Trump also said that the U.S. government might do a “friendly takeover” of the country.

With Trump, who knows what he will actually do, or what he means by a “friendly takeover.” But one thing is clear. For the last 67 years, the U.S. government has never been “friendly” to Cuba. Since 1959, the U.S. government has tried to strangle the Cuban economy and impoverish its people.

In 1959, a small band of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro overthrew Batista, a dictator backed by the U.S. government. After the revolution, Castro approached the U.S. government and said he wanted a friendly relationship. But the leaders of U.S. imperialism could not abide anyone defying their rule over the Western Hemisphere. They were afraid that the Cuban revolution might encourage revolutions in other Latin American countries, revolutions which would endanger the profits of U.S. corporations who dominated the economy of Latin America.

Ever since the Cuban revolution, the U.S. government, under both Republicans and Democrats, has imposed economic sanctions and embargoes on Cuba, trying to bring down the Cuban regime, while also punishing the people of Cuba.

The Cuban revolution had its limits as far as what it meant for the Cuban working class. But the fact that the regime that came out of the revolution continued to exist, 90 miles away from U.S. shores, has always been an issue for the U.S. capitalist class. Whatever Trump plans to do in Cuba, it will not be in the interest of the working people of Cuba. Nor will it be in the interests of workers of this country.