Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent supporter of President Donald Trump on foreign policy matters, recently shared a message on X with a clear and direct warning to the Cuban government.
In his post, Graham advised, "To the communists ruling and oppressing the Cuban people: Call Maduro and ask for guidance… if you can reach him, that is. If I were you, I'd be looking for a new place to live."
This message was shared alongside a statement by Donald Trump on Truth Social, where the former president declared that Cuba would no longer receive petroleum or financial backing from Venezuela.
Trump urged, "Reach an agreement before it's too late," signaling an intensification of warnings aimed at Cuba's leadership.
Senator Graham, representing South Carolina, echoed the White House's strong stance, emphasizing that the power structure in Havana is experiencing one of its most vulnerable periods in decades.
The senator's comments come amid a drastically changed regional landscape following the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, a move that dismantled a key pillar of political, financial, and energy support for the Cuban administration.
For years, Havana's dictatorship has relied heavily on resources and oil from Caracas to sustain its economy and oppressive apparatus. The sudden halt of this support exacerbates Cuba's deep-seated issues, such as blackouts, food shortages, inflation, and unprecedented levels of migration.
Graham's statement not only highlights the economic challenges but also points to the Cuban regime's political accountability in the region.
The senator has long been one of the most vocal critics of Havana, frequently labeling it as a hub for exporting repressive methods and backing allied dictatorships.
Recently, he publicly praised the capture of Maduro as a "historic day" and suggested that the downfall of Cuba's system might be closer than many anticipate.
“Cuba is a communist dictatorship that has murdered priests and nuns, preyed on its own people. Their days are numbered. One day we will wake up - hopefully by 2026 - and have allies in our neighborhood, doing business with the United States, not narcoterrorists and dictators killing Americans," he told the press.
At 70, Graham is a leading voice of the Republican Party's hardline on national security issues. Serving as the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a veteran of the Air Force, he has consistently advocated for a confrontational approach toward Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran.
Understanding the Impact of U.S. Policy on Cuba
What recent actions have affected Cuba's support from Venezuela?
The capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has disrupted the political, financial, and energy support that Venezuela provided to Cuba, significantly impacting the Cuban regime's stability.
How has Cuba's reliance on Venezuela affected its current situation?
Cuba relied heavily on Venezuelan oil and resources to sustain its economy, and the sudden cessation of this support has intensified existing issues like blackouts, food shortages, and inflation.
What is Lindsey Graham's stance on Cuba?
Senator Lindsey Graham is a strong critic of the Cuban regime, advocating for a confrontational approach and highlighting Cuba as a center for exporting repressive methods and supporting dictatorial allies.