Has Trump pushed Cuba to the brink of collapse? episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 31, 2026 · 27 MIN

Has Trump pushed Cuba to the brink of collapse?

from The Global Story · host BBC World Service

While still engaged in a war with Iran, Donald Trump’s attention is also on Havana. The US president suggested last week that he expects to soon have the “honour” of “taking Cuba, in some form”. He added “Whether I free it, take it—I think I can do anything I want with it.” The Trump administration has tightened a longstanding US economic embargo on the Caribbean island, and created a near-total fuel blockade. Cuba was already in the grip of a severe economic crisis, and while a Russian oil tanker has recently reached the island, the blockade has pushed the country to the brink of collapse. We speak to the BBC’s Will Grant, who has recently returned from the island, to discuss what Trump wants in Cuba, and whether the Cuban Revolution can survive its biggest test in decades. Producers: Aron Keller and Viv Jones Executive producer: Penny Murphy Sound engineer: Travis Evans Senior news editor: China Collins Photo: Havana street during a blackout. Credit: Ernesto Mastrascusa/EPA/Shutterstock

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 31, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Has Trump pushed Cuba to the brink of collapse?

0:00 27:12

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Global Story?

This episode is 27 minutes long.

When was this The Global Story episode published?

This episode was published on March 31, 2026.

Can I download this The Global Story episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!