On November 27, 2025, the already tense political climate in the Caribbean and Central America took another sharp turn as U.S. President Donald J. Trump issued a pointed message on his social media platform, Truth Social. In a post that quickly reverberated through diplomatic and media circles, Trump described Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela as countries "taken over by narcoterrorists." This declaration, as reported by Celebritax, marked a significant escalation in the rhetoric the United States has directed toward left-leaning regimes in Latin America.
Trump’s message was not simply a broadside against regional adversaries. He used the occasion to throw his support behind Tito Asfura, a candidate in Honduras’s upcoming presidential elections scheduled for November 30. "Democracy is under test in the upcoming elections in the beautiful country of Honduras. Will Maduro and his narco-terrorists take another country, as they have done with Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela?" Trump wrote, making clear his concern over what he termed the expansion of "narcocommunism" in the region and urging Honduran voters to be wary of "communists or false opponents."
According to Celebritax, Trump directly accused Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s regime of "taking countries through networks of political narco-terrorism," drawing direct parallels to Cuba and Nicaragua. He praised Tito Asfura’s record as mayor of Tegucigalpa, highlighting achievements such as bringing drinking water to millions and paving hundreds of kilometers of roads. Trump contrasted Asfura with his main opponent, Rixi Moncada, whom he criticized for idolizing Fidel Castro, and accused a third candidate, Salvador Nasralla, of being "not a friend of freedom."
The message, analysts noted, served as a geopolitical warning about the influence of Havana, Caracas, and Managua on electoral processes in Central America. Sources from the White House confirmed to Celebritax that the president would maintain a "zero tolerance" policy toward governments or candidates linked to the Cuba–Venezuela–Nicaragua axis. Trump insisted that only Tito Asfura represented freedom and democracy in Honduras, stating, "I cannot work with Moncada or with the communists. Nasralla is not a trustworthy partner for freedom. I hope the people of Honduras vote for democracy and choose Tito Asfura as president."
Trump’s reference to Cuba as a "country taken over by narco-terrorists" was a clear escalation in Washington’s stance toward the regime led by Miguel Díaz-Canel and Raúl Castro. The U.S. has long accused Havana of supporting criminal networks linked to drug trafficking and political repression in the region. Trump promised to maintain "maximum pressure" on the Cuban regime, which he accuses of "exporting communist ideology, manipulating elections, and sustaining allied dictatorships" in Latin America.
As these accusations flew from Washington, the Cuban government was not silent. Just days before, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling him a "corrupt and compulsive liar," according to reporting by EL PAÍS. Rubio’s reply was succinct and stinging: a clown emoji, effectively dismissing Cuban diplomacy as a farce. U.S. Congressman Carlos A. Giménez upped the ante, warning, "Bruno, be careful, the ship could set sail and come for all of you narco-terrorist henchmen of the murderous dictatorship in Cuba." Giménez was referencing "Operation Southern Spear," a major U.S. military deployment off the coast of Venezuela, which includes nearly 15,000 troops—at least 5,000 stationed in Puerto Rico—and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier. The operation, according to EL PAÍS, has already resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people in the fight against drug trafficking.
The military buildup has revived memories of the Cold War in the Caribbean, though this time the stated enemy is the drug trade. Despite this, Cuba has been mentioned only sparingly in connection to the operation. As José Hernández, former Venezuelan representative to the OAS’s hemispheric security commission, explained to EL PAÍS, "Cuba ceased to be a protagonist when Fidel died; he had managed to embody the image of the great manipulator of global politics." Yet, the current escalation has Havana on edge, with Cuba’s political elite showing "growing concern," according to political scientist Carlos M. Rodríguez Arechavaleta. He cited continuous statements and events in support of Maduro’s regime as evidence, noting that Cuba frames the situation as an "unacceptable threat" to sovereignty and security, with "unpredictable consequences" for Latin America.
Cuba’s commitment to Venezuela is not just rhetorical. On November 25, more than 50,000 people rallied in Havana’s Vedado district to show support for Venezuela, and over four million signatures were collected in favor of the Chavista cause. President Miguel Díaz-Canel declared at a public event, "Whoever messes with Venezuela, messes with Cuba." Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, however, clarified in an interview that "we are not going to war with the United States," but affirmed that Cuba would provide "its full political support" to Venezuela.
The relationship between Havana and Caracas is deeply rooted. Since the 2000s, Venezuela has been Cuba’s chief economic and political ally, at times sending more than 90,000 barrels of oil daily in exchange for Cuban medical missions. This support has waned in recent years—shipments have dropped to about 8,000 barrels a day due to Venezuela’s crisis—but the alliance remains crucial for Cuba’s survival. María Werlau, author of Cuba’s Intervention in Venezuela, told EL PAÍS, "The survival of the Venezuelan autocratic regime is of paramount importance for the survival of the Cuban political elites." She added, "If Venezuela falls, Cuba would lose its most important point of reference in the Southern Cone."
Behind the scenes, Cuban intelligence is believed to wield significant influence in Venezuela’s military and security sectors. According to Werlau, "The Cuban regime’s influence in Venezuela remains very high, particularly in the security and military intelligence sectors." There has even been speculation, reported by Axios and cited in EL PAÍS, that Cuban advisors might assassinate Maduro if he yields to U.S. pressure, though most experts consider this scenario speculative. Still, Werlau believes Cuba exerts "a lot of pressure" to keep Maduro in power, even if by threat.
Some analysts warn that a coup in Venezuela could trigger a domino effect, threatening the survival of regimes in Cuba and Nicaragua. Yet, Werlau remains cautious, noting the resilience of these governments: "When the Soviet Union collapsed, many people saw Cuba’s demise, and then Chávez emerged. They’ve managed to reinvent themselves several times. I think recovering from this will be difficult because the island is devastated. However, they’ve managed to maintain control and internal security. I don’t know if it will be the end, but it could be very significant."
As the region braces for the Honduran elections and the outcome of U.S. military maneuvers in the Caribbean, the intertwined fates of Cuba, Venezuela, and their allies remain uncertain. With rhetoric intensifying and military assets on the move, the next chapter in this saga could reshape the political landscape of the Americas.
