Trump Reportedly Considering Toppling Cuban Regime Even As War With Iran Continues

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering the possibility of pursuing regime change in Cuba, believing that the administration's belligerent stance is working.

Speaking to The Atlantic, a U.S. official detailed Trump's mindset at the moment, saying he is "feeling like, 'I'm on a roll.'"

In fact, the president said on Friday that "we could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba" amid reports that his administration is having talks with the grandson of Raul Castro about the future of the beleaguered Caribbean island.

Speaking to press at the White House lawn last week, Trump said that "the Cuban government is talking with us."

"They're in a big deal of trouble. They have no money. They have nothing right now. But they're talking with us. Maybe we'll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba," Trump added.

However, the outlet noted that such a scenario would carry severe risks, including the possibility of an influx of refugees to the U.S. when the country is cracking down on immigration inside the country and at the border.

Moreover, there is no organized opposition in the country after decades of a one-party system, meaning that chances of a negotiated settlement like the one taking place in Venezuela are slimmer.

However, officials said Trump is willing to take these steps believing he could be seen as the first modern leader with the guts to reshape the global order.

In the meantime, Cuba continues to endure severe fuel shortages. A tanker believed to be carrying Russian oil that was on its way to the island changed course last week.

The Sea Horse was drifting in the North Atlantic Ocean, Bloomberg reported last Thursday. The vessel is believed to be carrying some 200,000 barrels of gas oil, the outlet added, based on shipping analytics from Kpler Ltd.

Cuba didn't receive any oil in January for the first time in a decade. Bloomberg noted in another report that the lack of shipments illustrates the acute lack of fuel taking place in the country, with an analyst telling the outlet that he expects it to run out in the coming weeks.

Vortexa Ltd senior analyst Rohit Rathod noted that Cuba received substantial amounts of oil in December, which should last for some more weeks. However, the lack of new "I would give it until late-March before they run out of fuels," he added.