President Donald Trump just delivered another masterclass in America First diplomacy, confirming he has "no problem" with other countries—including Russia—sending oil to Cuba to address the island nation's energy crisis. The move effectively ends the de facto oil blockade that has defined U.S.-Cuba relations for decades.
According to reports from The New York Times, Trump's administration is allowing a Russian oil tanker to dock in the Caribbean nation, marking a dramatic shift from the failed policies of previous administrations that accomplished nothing except virtue signaling to Miami donors.
This isn't about loving Cuba's communist regime—it's about smart dealmaking. While the Washington establishment clutches their pearls, Trump understands that starving 11 million people ninety miles from Florida creates more problems than it solves. Mass migration, regional instability, and humanitarian crises don't serve American interests.
Strategic Genius or Controversy?
The move has predictably triggered the usual suspects in the foreign policy blob who've spent six decades pursuing the same failed approach toward Cuba. These are the same "experts" who gave us endless wars in the Middle East and the Afghanistan debacle.
Trump's calculation is brilliant: Why hand China and Russia exclusive influence in our backyard when we could potentially peel Cuba away from these adversaries through pragmatic engagement? The President has consistently shown he's willing to talk to anyone if it advances American interests—from North Korea's Kim Jong Un to this latest Cuba opening.
"We've tried isolation for 60 years. How's that working out? Maybe it's time to try something that actually puts America first instead of satisfying the same old political donors."
This policy shift also serves another Trump priority: reducing illegal immigration. A Cuba with a functioning economy means fewer desperate people attempting dangerous ocean crossings to reach American shores.
The establishment will cry about "appeasing dictators," but these are the same people who had no problem with Obama's failed Cuba opening or Biden's billions to Iran. When Trump does diplomacy, it's called appeasement. When they do it, it's called "engagement."
Once again, Trump proves he's playing chess while Washington plays checkers. Will this latest example of America First pragmatism pay dividends, or will the deep state find new ways to undermine successful Trump policies?