U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric toward Cuba in recent weeks, saying he is capable of doing “anything” he wants regarding the island and suggesting he could even have the “honor of controlling it.”

Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said he aims to “liberate” Cuba, describing it as a “collapsed country” with “no oil and no money,” adding that it is “falling apart in front of everyone.” He said the United States is there “to help the people and families.”

The comments come amid renewed allegations involving former Cuban leader Raúl Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft, which killed four people, including three Americans.

According to a CNN report, the U.S. administration is using the escalation to weaken figures within the Cuban system seen as potentially more open to negotiations, while also keeping open the possibility of legal or even covert action.

The renewed pressure on Havana reflects Washington’s broader strategy of combining economic sanctions and political pressure with implicit threats of force.