As Financial Times learned from current and former American officials, in the case of Cuba, it is not about a complete change of the political system, but rather about a symbolic "regime change" through the replacement of the head of state. At the same time, sources of the publication claim that Washington insists on precisely such a scenario in negotiations.
Miguel Díaz-Canel. Photo: Emilio Flores / Anadolu via Getty Images
The US allegedly considers an option under which, within the framework of possible agreements with Cuba, the country's president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, must be removed from power.
Earlier, American media already wrote that the US might consider the possibility of removing the Cuban president from power, but without a radical change of the entire governance system. At the same time, officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, called similar reports fake.
Despite this, US policy towards Cuba has recently become stricter. In particular, the US Department of Justice accused the country's former leader, 95-year-old Raúl Castro, of conspiracy, and the Pentagon sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
Additional suspicions about possible harsh actions arose after a report by CBS News about CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Havana. According to these reports, he was accompanied by a special forces operative who had previously participated in an operation against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. This intensified rumors about possible forceful scenarios. The Cuban side rejects all accusations and states that the US is looking for pretexts for pressure or possible aggression.
According to other sources, Washington does not yet have a final decision: both diplomatic and forceful options for the development of events are being considered.
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