During a private dinner in Florida, US President Donald Trump stated that the United States would 'take over Cuba almost immediately' after completing military operations in Iran. He indicated that the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier, could be deployed close to Cuba to compel a swift surrender. Trump's remarks came shortly after he signed an executive order that expands sanctions targeting multiple sectors of the Cuban economy, including energy and finance. These sanctions are part of a broader 'maximum pressure' campaign aimed at instigating political and economic reforms in Cuba, which is currently grappling with a severe economic crisis. In response, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the sanctions, asserting they violate the United Nations Charter and harm ordinary citizens. He criticized the US for attempting to impose measures against Cuba and other nations, framing it as an act of imperialism.