U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday suggested that "Cuba is next" in the sequence of U.S. actions following recent military operations in Venezuela and ongoing attacks on Iran, remarks that immediately drew global attention and added to regional tensions, reports Xinhua.

Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Miami, Florida, Trump made the comment in an off the cuff manner, urging the media to "pretend I didnt say that," before repeating that "Cubas next." He did not outline specific plans for military or political action but his remarks were widely interpreted as signaling future pressure on Havana.

The comments come after U.S. forces raided Venezuela on January 3, ousting President Nicolas Maduro, and launched a series of large scale joint attacks with Israel on Iran beginning February 28. These operations have already heightened geopolitical tensions across multiple regions.

Cuba has been struggling under decades of U.S. sanctions and a severe economic and energy crisis, with the United Nations highlighting fuel shortages that have pushed parts of the country toward humanitarian stress.

Earlier this month, Trump had said that Cuba was "going to fall pretty soon," although at that time he noted that the administrations main focus remained on the conflict with Iran.

Sun News/ra