• Sen. Rick Scott said Cuba’s government could collapse “this year” or “next year” following U.S. invasion of Venezuela
• Scott previously predicted Cuban regime would fall soon after Maduro’s removal from power
• Cuba revealed 32 of its citizens were killed during Saturday’s operation to capture Venezuelan president

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) predicted Tuesday that the Cuban government could be overthrown as early as this year in the wake of the Trump administration’s invasion of Venezuela and capture of President Nicolas Maduro, maintaining his long-held belief that the two authoritarian regimes would fall in succession.

Scott Stands by Cuba Predictions

Speaking with NewsNation host Blake Burman, the Florida Republican reaffirmed his previous statements linking Venezuela’s fate to that of Cuba’s communist government. Asked whether he maintained his prediction that Cuba would fall shortly after Maduro’s removal, Scott expressed confidence despite acknowledging uncertainty about timing.

“It’s going to be the end of the Diaz-Canel regime, the Castro regime, it’s going to happen. We’re in the process of it happening now.”

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When pressed by Burman on whether the collapse would occur “within weeks or months,” Scott provided a measured response that balanced his conviction with practical realism about the pace of geopolitical change.

“Everything takes longer than you think, right? You know, look, I’d like everything to happen today, for the kids of Venezuela, for the kids of Cuba, but I think it’s going to happen.”

The senator elaborated on his timeline, stating, “I think it will probably happen maybe this year, maybe next year. It’s going to happen. I thought Maduro would be out by Christmas. It took a little bit longer.”

Venezuela Operation Killed 32 Cubans

Scott’s comments followed Saturday’s U.S. military operation that captured Maduro and his wife, transporting them to New York to face narco-terrorism charges. The operation resulted in significant casualties, with Cuba announcing Monday that 32 of its citizens were killed during the strikes on Caracas.

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The Cuban government characterized the deaths as resulting from personnel “carrying out missions” on behalf of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces and interior ministry at Venezuela’s request. Cuba condemned the operation as a “criminal act of aggression and state terrorism,” announcing two days of national mourning.

President Donald Trump confirmed the Cuban casualties aboard Air Force One Sunday night, telling reporters the operation achieved its objectives without American losses.

“You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday. There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side.”

Trump and Rubio Target Cuba Next

Both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Saturday that Cuba could be the next target of U.S. action in the hemisphere. The president declared Cuba’s communist government appeared vulnerable to collapse without direct American military intervention.

“Cuba literally is ready to fall.”

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants and a longtime Cuba hawk, issued a pointed warning to the Havana government during a press conference following the Venezuela operation.

“Look, if I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned.”

The secretary of state has long maintained that Cuban intelligence and security forces effectively controlled Venezuela’s security apparatus, with Cuban personnel serving as Maduro’s personal protection and running the country’s spy agencies. Rubio argued that removing Maduro would sever Cuba’s economic lifeline from Venezuelan oil subsidies that have sustained the island’s failing economy.

Economic Pressure on Havana Intensifies

Cuba faces its most severe economic crisis since the Soviet Union’s collapse, relying heavily on subsidized Venezuelan oil for survival. The island has experienced regular power outages and shortages of basic goods, with the situation expected to worsen as Venezuela’s oil production faces U.S. sanctions and military pressure.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned the Venezuela operation during a Saturday rally in Havana that drew thousands, warning that Latin America would not serve as America’s “backyard” for unilateral action.

Trump dismissed the possibility of direct military action against Cuba, suggesting economic isolation following Venezuela’s collapse would achieve regime change without American forces.

“Cuba is ready to fall. Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall. I don’t know how they, if they can, hold that, but Cuba now has no income. They got all of their income from Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil.”

Regional Implications Expand

The Venezuela operation marks the most significant U.S. military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, when American forces captured dictator Manuel Noriega. However, experts warn that Venezuela presents far greater challenges than Panama, with a population exceeding 28 million across terrain twice the size of California.

Scott has positioned himself as a leading congressional voice on Latin American policy, particularly regarding authoritarian regimes in Venezuela and Cuba. The senator previously predicted Maduro would be removed by Christmas 2025, acknowledging his timeline proved slightly optimistic.

The Trump administration has indicated it will “run” Venezuela until a transition can occur, though officials have not specified how long American oversight would continue or what governance structure would replace Maduro’s government. Trump also noted plans for U.S. companies to develop Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

Can economic isolation alone trigger regime change in Cuba, or will additional pressure be required to fulfill Scott’s prediction?

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