President Trump signed an executive order Thursday declaring a national emergency over Cuba’s support for what the administration calls “malign actors adverse to the United States.”
The order names Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
The language is blunt.
“Cuba blatantly hosts dangerous adversaries of the United States,” the directive states. It says these actors are invited to base sophisticated military and intelligence capabilities on the island. It says those capabilities directly threaten U.S. national security.
The order singles out Russia as a frequent guest.
Senior administration officials said the move is meant to increase pressure on Havana and signal that tolerance has ended. They described Cuba as a forward operating platform for hostile powers seeking influence and access close to U.S. shores.
For decades, Cuba has existed as a closed system. A one-party state. A command economy. A nation rich in land, coastline, and culture, yet poor in freedom and opportunity.
The new declaration frames the issue not only as a security threat, but as a moral one.
Officials close to the president said freeing Cuba and opening a path toward democracy would be welcomed in Miami and across the Cuban diaspora. They said it would also be welcomed far beyond U.S. borders.
The idea is simple.
A democratic Cuba would not host foreign enemies.
A democratic Cuba would trade.
It would build.
It would invest.
It would open its ports, its cities, its beaches, and its farms to the world.
Some in the administration describe Cuba as the greatest untapped paradise in the Caribbean. Ninety miles from Florida. Warm water. Deep harbors. Fertile soil. A skilled population.
They argue that with political change, Cuba could move quickly from isolation to prosperity.
A new Golden Era.
Critics warn that escalating pressure could harden positions and increase regional tension. Supporters say decades of engagement failed and that strength is the only language Havana understands.
The president has made his choice.
The emergency declaration activates expanded authorities, including potential financial restrictions and enforcement measures targeting Cuban-linked networks tied to foreign adversaries.
The message is clear.
Cuba must choose.
Remain a host for America’s enemies.
Or step into the modern world.
The White House calls the moment historic.
Some are already using a slogan.
“Make Cuba Great Again.”
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