Who is next as Nicolas Maduro is captured by US forces? Rubio says Cuba should be concerned

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Cuba after US forces removed Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro from power. Rubio said the Cuban government should be worried after losing its close ally in Venezuela. “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I'd be concerned at least a little bit,” Rubio said at a news conference with President Donald Trump, as stated by AFP.

Rubio has long been a strong critic of Cuba’s communist government and has pushed hard against Maduro for years. The warning came after US-backed action led to Maduro being captured following unrest inside Venezuela. In the past, attempts to remove Maduro failed because of help from Cuba, according to US officials, as reported by NY Times.

Cuba helped Maduro stay in power

A 2019 uprising collapsed after Cuban intelligence warned Maduro and helped him stay in power. Former US officials said Cuba even had a plane ready to fly Maduro to Havana during that crisis. Rubio previously said the real problem was Cuba, not just Maduro. “The only coup is the one carried out by Cuba in support of dictator Maduro,” Rubio wrote during the 2019 crisis. Rubio believes cutting Venezuela’s support to Cuba could weaken the Cuban government.


“Under this approach, once Venezuela goes, Cuba will follow,” said Juan S. Gonzalez, a former White House aide. Rubio earlier said that hurting Cuba would be a welcome “byproduct” of removing Maduro, as noted by NY Times. “Anything that’s bad for a communist dictatorship is something I support,” Rubio said in 2019. US officials say Venezuela and Cuba share deep political, economic, and security ties. Cuban leaders fear Maduro’s fall could threaten their own survival.

US pressure on Venezuela grows

In recent months, the US military increased pressure near Venezuela as part of a campaign against Maduro. The Trump administration seized a Venezuelan oil tanker that had sent oil toward Cuba, escalating tensions. US officials say this pressure was meant to force Maduro to step down. Cuban opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer said removing Maduro could also weaken Cuba’s government. “Deposing Mr. Maduro would also favor the fall, or possible fall, of the regime in Havana,” Ferrer said.

Senator Lindsey Graham said after Maduro, the focus should shift to Cuba. “Hopefully the end of Mr. Maduro’s reign of terror in Venezuela is near, and then we can focus on Cuba,” Graham wrote, as stated by NY Times. Some experts warn Cuba has survived decades of pressure and still has support from Russia and China. Even so, Rubio’s message is clear: after Maduro, Cuba could be next.

FAQs

Q1. Why did Marco Rubio warn Cuba after Maduro was captured?

Because Cuba was a key supporter of Maduro, and losing him could weaken Cuba’s government.

Q2. Is the US planning action against Cuba next?

US officials have not confirmed this, but leaders say Cuba should be worried after Maduro’s fall.