93 Dr. Kevin Young: Is Cuba About To Become The Next Venezuela?

Dr. Kevin Young is a historian, author, and professor specializing in Latin American history, Revolutions, and U.S. foreign policy in the region who believes the recent indictment of former Cuban President Raul Castro suggests potentially imminent American military action in Cuba, given the recent kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro following similar legal moves.In this conversation, we explore whether the recent indictment could signal a new phase in U.S.-Cuba relations, and why many observers see parallels with recent events in Venezuela. Kevin explains the historical roots of American intervention in Latin America, the strategic relationship between Cuba and Venezuela, and why sanctions have become one of Washington’s most powerful foreign policy tools. We discuss the Monroe Doctrine, Cold War regime change operations, China's growing influence across Latin America, the humanitarian impact of economic sanctions, and the broader question of whether military intervention can ever achieve lasting political outcomes. Along the way, Kevin examines Cuba’s economic struggles, the legacy of the Cuban Revolution, the future of international law, and the geopolitical tensions shaping the Western Hemisphere today. This is a conversation about power, history, sovereignty, sanctions, diplomacy, and the forces that continue to shape global politics. Expect to learn why Cuba and Venezuela are strategically connected, how U.S. intervention in Latin America evolved over the last century, what sanctions actually do to civilian populations, how China is reshaping the geopolitical landscape in the region, whether military action against Cuba is a realistic possibility, and what these developments reveal about the future of American foreign policy. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Could the U.S. Be Preparing for Military Action in Cuba? 08:06 – The Origins of U.S.-Cuba Relations and the Monroe Doctrine 12:15 – Why Cuba Remains a Target of American Foreign Policy 18:30 – The Geopolitical Importance of Cuba in 2026 22:05 – China’s Growing Influence in Latin America 23:40 – Chinese Investment, Infrastructure, and Regional Development Through The Belt And Road Initiative 36:26 – Economic Isolation, Sanctions, and Cuba’s Global Position 42:45 – The Humanitarian Consequences of Fuel and Food Shortages 49:07 – Regime Change: What Is the End Goal? 55:55 – What Happened in Venezuela After Maduro? 59:45 – Could a Cuba Intervention Create a Failed State? 01:03:18 – The Cuban Revolution and Land Reform 01:07:30 – Why Socialism Took Root in Cuba 01:11:16 – Cuba’s Healthcare Crisis and the Impact of Sanctions 01:13:30 –the Human Cost of U.S. Sanctions 01:18:12 – The Future of International Law and Global Stability 01:19:30 – Nuclear Risk, Diplomacy, and the Global Order 01:24:00 – What Americans Should Understand About Cuba 01:28:28 – Historical Lessons for the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy 01:30:36 – Closing Thoughts You can find Kevin at KevinYoung.org Follow And Support The Show Website: zachtidwell.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556533676388 Instagram: @ZachCTidwell LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-tidwell-9076852ab/ X: @ZachCTidwell YouTube: @ZachCTidwellPodcast theme music by Transistor.fm.