United States President Donald Trump on Friday said that “Cuba is next” during a speech at an investment event in Florida, during which he praised the “successes” of the US military attacks on Iran and Venezuela.

“I built this great military,” Trumps said. “I said, ‘You’ll never have to use it,’ but sometimes you have to use it. And Cuba is next, by the way. But pretend I didn’t say that.”

He did not specify what he was planning to do with Cuba.

The US president asked the media to disregard the comment he had made about Cuba, but repeated “Cuba’s next”, leading to laughter from the audience.

The comment about Cuba made at the Saudi Arabia-backed Future Investment Initiative Institute event in Miami, was his latest threat against the Caribbean island nation, whose communist government has faced increasing pressure from Washington.

The Trump administration has imposed an oil blockade on Cuba since January. The fuel shortages have led to nationwide blackouts in recent weeks.

Cuba had already been under a US trade embargo since the Fidel Castro-led forces stormed to power in 1959. The bilateral relations had improved in the last decade, before worsening again under the Trump administration.

Speaking with Politico on March 5, Trump had claimed that after the Iranian government is toppled, “Cuba’s going to fall, too”.

On March 16, he told reporters at the White House that it would be an “honour” to “take Cuba in some form”.

“I ​mean, whether I free it, take it,” Reuters quoted him as having said at the time. “Think I can do anything I want with it…”

In response, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel had said on March 17 that an aggression would face “unbreakable resistance”. However, Diaz-Canel has acknowledged that Havana is negotiating with Washington to avoid a conflict.

On March 19, the US military had told lawmakers that it is not rehearsing for an invasion of Cuba or actively preparing to militarily take over the island.

Supporters wants strength and victory, says Trump

On Friday, Trump dismissed speculation that the military operation in Venezuela in January and the conflict in West Asia could cost him domestic political support.

Trump said that his supporters wanted “strength” and “victory”.

The US will in November hold mid-term elections for the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate.

The US and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran’s action posed an existential threat to Israel. Washington acts as a guarantor of Israel’s security. Iran has retaliated by striking Israel and US military bases in the region and targeting major cities in Gulf countries. Tehran has also effectively blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz, triggering a global energy crisis.

Trump’s fresh focus on Iran came after the US’ military operation in Venezuela. On January 3, the US military abducted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, for alleged drug trafficking.