The administration of US President Donald Trump is actively looking for figures within Cuba’s leadership who would be willing to help Washington engineer a change of power on the island by the end of 2026. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter.

According to the newspaper, the White House has been emboldened by the recent US-led overthrow of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and is now seeking individuals close to the Cuban government who could assist in dismantling the country’s communist system within a similar timeframe. The publication’s sources say Havana has never been in a more vulnerable position, pointing to severe economic troubles that have sharply weakened the government’s footing. The loss of a key external ally in the person of Maduro is described as an additional blow.

At the same time, The Wall Street Journal notes that Washington still lacks a clearly defined plan for a power transition in Havana. Nevertheless, officials in the Trump administration reportedly view the recent military operation that led to the capture of the Venezuelan leader as both a workable model and a direct signal to Cuba’s leadership.

Earlier, European diplomats told Western media that Cuba is approaching a humanitarian crisis and potential political collapse amid mounting pressure from the United States. Trump has already threatened to cut off fuel supplies and financial resources to the island. US intelligence assesses Cuba’s economic situation as extremely dire, although the CIA has so far refrained from making firm predictions about the inevitability of a collapse of the current authorities.

On January 5, 2026, Trump publicly stated that Cuba was «close to collapse», citing the lack of its own revenue sources and its dependence on support from the Venezuelan authorities. Just a week later, on January 12, he said Washington was maintaining contacts with Cuban officials regarding a possible deal.

The backdrop to these developments includes the US military operation dubbed «Absolute Resolve», carried out on the night of January 3. During that operation, strikes were launched on Caracas, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained. They were subsequently transferred to US territory and taken into custody, where they were charged with narco-terrorism, illegal arms trafficking, and drug smuggling.