• Trump threatens to "take" Cuba amid an oil embargo and severe power outages.
• Cuba experiences daily blackouts of up to 20 hours as a result of the embargo.
• U.S. and Cuban officials are reportedly in talks, despite rising tensions.

U.S. President Donald Trump vowed on Monday to "take" Cuba as the island faces a total power blackout linked to a crippling oil embargo imposed by Washington. He stated, "I do believe I'll be ... having the honor of taking Cuba," emphasizing his aggressive stance against the communist government that has defied U.S. influence for nearly seven decades. The situation is urgent as the island, home to 9.6 million people, deals with severe power cuts and economic challenges exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, according to Channel News Asia and Le Monde.

As daily power outages extend up to 20 hours, the deteriorating state of Cuba's electricity generation system has prompted rising frustrations among the population. Recent protests have escalated to violence, with demonstrators vandalizing a local Cuban Communist Party office. President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged the public's discontent due to prolonged blackouts and emphasized the need to refrain from violence. He has confirmed that his government has had talks with the United States amid these tensions, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

Trump's statements have highlighted a more aggressive U.S. strategy towards Cuba, linking them to the political developments surrounding Venezuela. Following the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Trump claims to hold the power to dictate and manipulate conditions in Cuba, saying, "Think I can do anything I want with it." These comments coincide with Cuba reportedly facing a complete shutdown of its national power grid, which officials stated was beginning to be restored, according to information from Channel News Asia and Reuters.

The pressure on Cuba is expected to continue, especially since the U.S. has imposed significant sanctions, halting oil shipments to the island since January. Cuban officials are trying to mitigate the impact of the economic pressures by welcoming investments from Cuban exiles in the United States, emphasizing a need for a commercial relationship to sustain the struggling economy. However, President Diaz-Canel has firmly rejected any interference in Cuba's internal affairs, which has traditionally been a point of contention, according to Le Monde and Reuters.