Trump says Cuba is seeking help, will hold talks

Trump had threatened that Cuba was ‘next’ after the US military seized ‌the leader of long-time Cuban ally Venezuela earlier this year

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Cuba was asking for help and “we are going to talk”, without providing any more detail.

“No Republican ‌has ever spoken to me about Cuba, which is a failed country and only heading in one direction – down! Cuba is asking for help, and we are going to talk!!! In the ⁠meantime, I’m off to China!” Trump wrote on social media.

Representatives for the White House and the State Department could not be immediately reached ‌for comment. Representatives for Havana also could not ⁠be immediately ⁠reached.

Trump had threatened that Cuba was “next” after the US military seized ‌the leader of long-time Cuban ally Venezuela earlier this year and has ‌since imposed ‌fresh financial sanctions and expanded others.

His administration has ‌also imposed a fuel blockade, curtailed US travel and ⁠remittances to the island nation and sought to dissuade regional ⁠allies from contracting Cuban doctors.

China, where Trump is travelling this week to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, ‌has called ‌on Washington to immediately end its embargo and sanctions on Havana.