First Venezuela, then Iran. Is Cuba next on Trump’s hit list?

First Venezuela, then Iran. Is Cuba next on Trump’s hit list?

Author: The Telegraph May 22, 2026 Duration: 45:01

With Iran peace talks deadlocked, US military attention appears to be turning to another longtime enemy: Cuba. 


This week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared Cuba a threat to US security. Indictments have been issued against its elderly former president Raúl Castro. Claims about a Cuban drone stockpile aimed at the US have been leaked to the press. The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier has been deployed to the Caribbean. A blockade has been in place for months, leading to mass blackouts. 


Carlos Solar, RUSI’s senior research fellow for Latin American security, joins Roland Oliphant to examine whether the United States is creating a pretext for an attack on Cuba. They discuss why things are escalating in the Caribbean and what an attack on the country might look like. Plus, how it is all connected to the war in Iran. 


Highlights

  • First Venezuela, then Iran. Is Cuba next on Trump’s hit list?
  • How the Iran war is pushing Cuba’s regime over the edge


CONTRIBUTORS:


Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphant

Carlos Solar, RUSI Latin American Security senior fellow @CSolar


CONTENT REFERENCED:


Trump: deploying aircraft carrier to Caribbean is not meant to intimidate Cuba


Rubio: Cuba is a national security threat


Cuba is dark, desperate and still deluded


Producer: Max Bower

Executive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells


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For those trying to understand the complex and rapidly shifting landscape of the Middle East, Iran: The Latest offers essential context. This Telegraph podcast moves beyond the headlines to examine the military, diplomatic, and strategic forces shaping the ongoing tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Hosted by veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey, each episode synthesizes frontline reporting from the paper's award-winning journalists with insightful conversations. You'll hear from specialists in areas like regional security architecture, covert operations, and geopolitical theory, providing a clearer picture of the stakes involved. The analysis considers historical grievances, economic pressures, and potential flashpoints, from proxy conflicts to direct confrontations. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to grasp not just what is happening, but why it matters and what might come next. By drawing on deep sourcing and expert commentary, this podcast delivers a nuanced perspective that is both timely and thoroughly researched, making sense of a critical and often misunderstood arena of global affairs.
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