Nigeria: US-Cuba Tensions: Rubio denies push to oust president

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied a report by The New York Times that US officials have urged Cuba to remove its president, Miguel Diaz-Canel. Rubio described the article as “fake” and criticized the newspaper for relying on unreliable sources

The report claimed that officials under President Donald Trump have asked Cuba to oust Diaz-Canel, seen as a hardliner, but haven’t pushed for a complete overthrow of the communist government. Rubio didn’t specify which parts of the article he was denying.

Rubio, a Cuban-American, has long advocated for an end to Cuba’s communist system, established by Fidel Castro in 1959. He emphasized that Cuba needs more significant reforms, beyond recent measures allowing overseas Cubans to invest and own businesses.

Trump has increased pressure on Cuba, exacerbating its economic crisis. He forced Venezuela to stop oil shipments, crucial for Cuba, after deposing President Nicolas Maduro. Trump has expressed interest in a “deal” with Cuba but also threatened to take over the island.