WASHINGTON, May 19. /TASS/. The administration of US President Donald Trump is increasingly leaning toward the possibility of using military force against Cuba, Politico reported on Monday.
According to one of the newspaper’s sources, "Trump and his aides have grown frustrated that the US pressure campaign, which includes starving the island of fuel, has not led Cuba’s leaders to agree to significant economic and political reforms. So, they’re taking the military option more seriously than previously."
According to its sources, the US leadership had initially hoped that sanctions pressure, an oil blockade, and operations against Venezuela and Iran would push the Cuban authorities toward reaching a deal.
The publication notes that US authorities are considering, among other options, the possible capture of Cuban revolutionary leader Army General Raul Castro.
"This has led to some speculation that the U.S. could carry out a military extraction operation against Castro, the same way it did against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January," Politico wrote.
Axios reported on May 14, citing sources, that CIA Director John Ratcliffe said during a visit to Cuba that Washington was prepared to cooperate in the areas of the economy and security provided that reforms were implemented on the island.