US Reportedly Wants to Remove Cuban President

JAKARTA - The United States wants to get rid of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, but will leave the next step to the Cuban people.

Citing a number of sources, the New York Times report said Washington is currently not seeking to take action against the Castro family, but has made it clear to Havana that there will be no deal as long as Diaz-Canel is in office.

As reported by ANTARA from Sputnik, a number of officials in the US President Donald Trump's administration believe that the removal of the Cuban leader could open up opportunities for structural changes in the country's economy, which is considered unlikely to be supported by Diaz-Canel.

In late January, Trump signed an executive order authorizing Washington to impose import tariffs on goods from countries that supply oil to Cuba.

The move was also accompanied by the establishment of an emergency status on the grounds of a threat to national security allegedly originating from Havana.

The Cuban government accuses the US of trying to suppress the Caribbean country's economy and worsen the living conditions of its people.

Miguel Diaz-Canel, a senior politician of the Cuban Communist Party, has served as President of Cuba since April 2018 after replacing Raúl Castro. Before becoming president, he held the position of First Vice President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers in the period 2013-2018.