On Monday, Donald Trump arrived at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, with the backing of a newly signed memorandum of understanding with Iran. He immediately placed Ukraine at the forefront of his diplomatic agenda, marking it as the next priority.
This move delays direct attention on Cuba, which had been repeatedly mentioned by Trump as a subsequent step in his geopolitical strategy following Venezuela and Iran.
Trump Concludes Iran Deal, Turns to Ukraine and Lebanon
In joint statements with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the summit—scheduled to take place from June 15 to 17 under French presidency—Trump announced that the U.S. and Iran have signed a memorandum to end the conflict in the Persian Gulf and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though details of the agreement's public disclosure remain unspecified.
With the Iran issue nearing resolution, Trump declared his intentions to focus on Ukraine and Lebanon next.
"We had a very good conversation yesterday with President Zelenski and President Putin, and I think we might be able to achieve something. I truly believe that. Both are open to it," Trump stated to the media alongside Macron.
The most intensive session of the summit, scheduled for Tuesday, centers on peace and security in Ukraine, featuring a working meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski.
However, Moscow has already tempered expectations: Zelenski proposed a direct meeting with Putin at the G7, but Russia responded that it is "not ready" to negotiate.
At least 11 people were killed on Monday in Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities, with one of the bombings damaging Kiev's Dormition Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Macron, speaking on French television TF1, expressed hope to convince Trump to increase pressure on Russia.
"What I ultimately want is for the Americans to say: we are with you, we will continue to support Ukraine, we will put more pressure on Russia," said the French president.
Macron's statement clearly positions Ukraine as the immediate priority in transatlantic dialogue, thereby postponing any shift of attention toward Cuba.
Cuba: A Perpetual Backburner
The pivot to Ukraine reignites an enduring question lingering over the Caribbean: when will Cuba's turn come?
The sequence had been announced with unusual clarity. On March 5, Trump told Marco Rubio at the White House: "Your next project will be Cuba."
On March 27, at the FII Priority Summit in Miami Beach, he was more direct: "I built this great military. I said I would never have to use it, but sometimes you have to. And Cuba is next, by the way, but pretend I didn't say that, please."
On June 4, from the Oval Office, he promised: "I like to do one thing at a time. We'll deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran and, once that's resolved, on our way back we'll make a brief stop. We'll handle it then."
Now, with the formal signing of the peace treaty with Iran set for June 19 in Geneva and Ukraine taking center stage, Cuba remains sidelined once again.
The Island's Urgent Needs
While Trump’s diplomacy maneuvers on other fronts, Cuba faces an unprecedented crisis.
The capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3 severed between 26,000 and 70,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil daily—representing 80-90% of Cuban imports—causing endless blackouts and a power generation deficit peaking over 2,100 megawatts.
Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed more than 240 sanctions against the regime, including secondary sanctions on GAESA and, on June 11, measures against CUPET, the Cuban state oil company.
On May 28, Axios disclosed that the administration is preparing for a potential regime collapse "as early as this summer," and the Southern Command has conducted simulation exercises for unrest scenarios.
While Trump negotiates peace for Ukraine, Cubans continue to wait.
Key Questions About Cuba's Situation
Why has Cuba been repeatedly sidelined in Trump's agenda?
Despite being mentioned as a priority, Cuba has been overshadowed by more pressing geopolitical issues such as Venezuela, Iran, and Ukraine, delaying direct action or focus.
What impact have U.S. sanctions had on Cuba?
The sanctions have exacerbated Cuba's economic difficulties, leading to severe shortages in energy and other essential imports, further destabilizing the nation's already fragile economy.
What are the current challenges faced by Cuba?
Cuba is dealing with significant energy shortages due to reduced oil imports and ongoing blackouts, compounded by the economic strain from U.S. sanctions.