Why is the US so obsessed with controlling Cuba?

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · May 12, 2026 · 936 words · By Deborah Shnookal

Cuban Sovereignty US-Cuba Diplomatic Relations US Imperialism

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What to know about Cuban Sovereignty

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.

Propaganda risk 40%

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left14%

Center72%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

For months, US President Donald Trump has been fixated on Cuba.

Why it matters

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

Common ground

The US military has conducted dozens of intelligence-gathering flights off the coast in recent weeks, suggesting a prelude to an invasion.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Cuban Sovereignty story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The US military has conducted dozens of intelligence-gathering flights off the coast in recent weeks?
How does this story connect Cuban Sovereignty with US-Cuba Diplomatic Relations over the next few days?

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.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 80% confidence

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

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 3

schedule Pending 3

check_circle Corroborated 3

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified

Claim 1: “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

schedule

Claim 2: “the Obama administration finally resumed relations with Cuba in 2014”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 3: “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

verified

Claim 4: “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

schedule

Claim 5: “the US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion showed 65 years ago”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 6: “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.

travel_explore

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

travel_explore

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

travel_explore

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

help

Claim 7: “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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Claim 8: “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

verified

Claim 9: “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…

+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 10: “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.

travel_explore

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/

travel_explore

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…

travel_explore

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

check_circle

Claim 11: “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.

travel_explore

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_…

travel_explore

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…

travel_explore

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…

help

Claim 12: “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.

schedule

Claim 13: “Castro announced in April 1959 that the revolutionary government would be “Cubanising Cuba”.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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.