Why is the US so obsessed with controlling Cuba?

The Conversation · May 12, 2026 · 936 words · By Deborah Shnookal

Cuban Sovereignty US-Cuba Diplomatic Relations US Imperialism

The article examines the historical relationship between the United States and Cuba, arguing that current tensions under the Trump administration are part of a long-standing pattern of US attempts to control the island. It traces this trajectory from the Monroe Doctrine and the 1902 independence through the Cuban Revolution and the Obama administration's brief diplomatic thaw.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-us-so-obsessed-with-controlling-cuba-2807…

analyticsAnalysis

40%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 90%

Moderate concerns. Notable use of persuasive or loaded language.

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

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Name Calling / Labeling 80% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

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Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

13 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 3

verified Verified By Reference 3

schedule Pending 3

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

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“He’s issued threats and imposed additional sanctions on the island.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm that President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14404 on May 1, 2026, imposing sanctions on Cuba and creating a path to sanction countries delivering fuel to the island.

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web search NEUTRAL — The National Capitol of Cuba in Havana was built in 1929 and is said to be modeled on the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., 2014.U.S. economic sanctions against Cuba are comprehensive and imp…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargo_against_…

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web search NEUTRAL — On May 1, 2026, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14404, “Imposing Sanctions on Those Responsible for Repression in Cuba and for Threats to United States National Security and Foreign Poli…
https://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2026/05/unite…

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web search NEUTRAL — Trump also issued an executive order creating a path to sanction any country that delivers fuel to the island, effectively imposing a blockade.The Cuban government has firmly rejected the recent sanct…
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/7/us-issues-new-cuba-s…

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“The US military has conducted dozens of intelligence-gathering flights off the coast in recent weeks”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general information about airlines, US government facts, and general Cuba-US relations, but contains no mention of intelligence-gathering flights in recent weeks.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Modern diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States are cold, stemming from historic conflict and divergent political ideologies. The two nations restored diplomatic relations on July 20, 2…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuba–United_States_relations

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A United States embargo has prevented U.S. businesses and citizens from conducting trade or commerce with Cuban interests since 1960. Modern diplomatic relations are cold, stemming from historic confl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargo_against_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Cuban thaw (Spanish: deshielo cubano, pronounced [desˈʝelo kuˈβano]) was a normalization of Cuba–United States relations from July 2015 to June 2017, ending a 54-year stretch of hostility between …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_thaw

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“The Cuban government has indicated a readiness to negotiate with the Trump administration on some issues, such as migration, drug trafficking and investment openings for Cuban-Americans.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources report that the Cuban government (specifically mentioning Miguel Díaz-Canel) has acknowledged talks or readiness to negotiate with the Trump administration amid an oil crisis and sanctions.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — An oil shortage and economic crisis is taking place in Cuba, caused by an American fuel blockade. The island is dependent on imported oil, mostly from Venezuela and Mexico; after the 2026 United State…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Cuban_crisis

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cuban Americans (Spanish: cubanoestadounidenses or cubanoamericanos) are Americans who trace their ancestry to Cuba. The word may refer to someone born in the U.S. of Cuban descent or to someone who h…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Americans

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“This is how President Theodore Roosevelt described the island in 1906: I am so angry with that infernal little Cuban republic that I would like to wipe its people off the face of the earth.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided includes general lists of presidents and a mention of the Provisional Government of Cuba (1906-1909), but does not contain the specific quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882 – April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving US p…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_D._Roosevelt

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Provisional Government of Cuba (Spanish: Gobierno Provisional de Cuba) lasted from September 1906 to February 1909. This period was also referred to as the Second occupation of Cuba. When the gove…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provisional_Government_of_Cuba

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Theodore Roosevelt IV ( ROH-zə-velt; June 14, 1914 – May 2, 2001), also known as Theodore III, was an American banker, government official, and veteran of World War II. He was a grandson of President …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt_III

+ 3 more evidence sources

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“the 1823 Monroe Doctrine sought to establish US predominance in the entire American continent”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and the National Archives confirm the Monroe Doctrine was articulated in 1823 to oppose foreign interference in the Western Hemisphere and establish a U.S. sphere of interest.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Donroe Doctrine, alternatively styled as the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, is an interpretation of principles of President Donald Trump's foreign policy in the Americas. An adaption of t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donroe_Doctrine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Monroe Doctrine is a United States foreign policy position that opposes any foreign interference in the Western Hemisphere. Originally concerning European colonialism, it holds that any interventi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrine

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Monroe Doctrine was a U.S. foreign policy regarding the Western Hemisphere first articulated in 1823. It may also refer to: Fort Monroe Doctrine, a policy regarding freed slaves working with the Unio…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_Doctrine_(disambiguatio…

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“Cuba has survived 66 years of US-led embargoes.”

CORROBORATED

One web source explicitly states 'Cuba has been under a US embargo for the past 66 years,' and Wikipedia confirms the embargo has been in place since 1960 (which aligns with a 66-year duration as of 2026).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Alpha 66 is an anti-Castro paramilitary organization. The group was originally formed by Cuban exiles in the early 1960s and was most active in the late 1970s and 1980s. Its activities declined in the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_66

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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“When the Cubans eventually defeated their Spanish colonial masters in 1898, the United States stepped in and occupied the island”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided for this claim consists of search results for United Airlines and flight bookings, which are completely irrelevant to the historical occupation of Cuba in 1898.

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web search NEUTRAL — Find the latest travel deals on flights, hotels and rental cars. Book airline tickets and MileagePlus award tickets to worldwide destinations.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/

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web search NEUTRAL — Find great deals on tickets and earn United frequent flyer points on top of our rewards. Check on United flight status and make your reservations with Expedia.
https://www.expedia.com/United-Flights.cUA.Travel-Guide-Airl…

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web search NEUTRAL — Find and compare United Airlines flights & tickets for all destinations, read 9,695 reviews, see United Airlines fees, cancellation policy and flight information | KAYAK
https://www.kayak.com/United-Airlines.UA.airline.html

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“At the time, at least one third of Cubans were former slaves or of mixed race.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence provided consists of dictionary definitions for the word 'least' and does not provide any demographic data regarding the Cuban population in 1898.

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web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of LEAST is lowest in importance or position. How to use least in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/least

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 13, 2026 · least (plural leasts) Preceded by the: superlative form of little: most little; the lowest - ranking or most insignificant person or (sometimes) group of people.
https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/least

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web search NEUTRAL — 1. smallest in size, amount, degree, etc.; slightest: to pay the least amount of attention. 2. lowest in consideration, position, or importance.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/least

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“Haitian slaves had seized control of their island nation from the French in a violent rebellion in 1804”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided or found for this claim in the search results.

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“The US military occupation of Cuba ended in 1902 and Cuba formally declared independence”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided or found for this claim in the search results.

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“Castro announced in April 1959 that the revolutionary government would be “Cubanising Cuba”.”

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“the Obama administration finally resumed relations with Cuba in 2014”

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“the US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion showed 65 years ago”

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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.

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Why is the US so obsessed with controlling Cuba?

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