Correa: US Faces ‘Another Vietnam’ if it Invades Cuba

Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has warned that a U.S. Invasion of Cuba could result in a prolonged and costly conflict, drawing parallels to the Vietnam War. The comments come as former President Donald Trump has signaled a potential shift in U.S. Policy toward the island nation, raising concerns about escalating tensions.

“An eventual invasion would be another Vietnam for them,” Correa said, according to reports from EFE. He also characterized the Trump administration’s oil blockade against Cuba as “criminal,” arguing it inflicts significant hardship on the Cuban people.

Correa emphasized Cuba’s unique vulnerabilities, stating, “Cuba, unlike Venezuela, does not have natural resources and has always been dependent on hydrocarbons. Blocking them is criminal.” He described the impact of the blockade, noting that it has left Cubans without electricity and is causing widespread suffering. “I see a Cuban people who have always known how to move forward, but the damage is enormous. It is a people that has been left without electricity. It is criminal what they are doing,” he added.

The former president also expressed concern about the potential for U.S. Military intervention in Venezuela, suggesting that the technological gap between the two countries is substantial. “At a military level, U.S. Technology is decades ahead of the rest,” he said. However, he believes that a full-scale invasion of Cuba would be difficult for the U.S. To achieve, predicting, “The United States can bombard Cuba, but they won’t be able to invade it; that would be another Vietnam for them, and they know that they won’t be able to destabilize the regime from the inside.”

These statements follow Trump’s announcement on Friday that his administration will pursue a “friendly and controlled takeover” of Cuba. Correspondent David Alandete reported on X that Trump used the phrase to describe his administration’s approach to Cuba, though specific details of the plan remain unclear.

Correspondent Juan Esteban Silva reported on X that Trump described Cuba as “a failed nation,” adding that the island “is behaving badly,” “has no money or oil,” and “needs the help of the United States.” Trump also indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio “is holding conversations with the regime at the highest level,” according to Silva.

The former president reportedly told Silva he has been following developments in Cuba since childhood and reiterated his intention to initiate a “friendly takeover.” This move underscores a potential hardening of U.S. Policy toward Cuba after years of relative diplomatic distance.