Could Cuba become America’s next geopolitical flashpoint?Cuba remains one of the most politically charged issues in American foreign policy. More than 60 years after the Cuban Revolution, debates around sanctions, regime change, and military intervention are once again intensifying.In this episode, Mikael Wolfe explains why Cuba is fundamentally different from Venezuela and Iran, and why a U.S. intervention would be far more complicated than many assume. He discusses Donald Trump’s approach to Cuba, the influence of Marco Rubio and Cuban-American politics, and how decades of sanctions have shaped Cuba’s economic crisis.Mikael also explores Obama-era diplomacy, the growing influence of China and Russia in the region, and whether peaceful political reform in Cuba is still possible without foreign intervention or regime change. Throughout the conversation, he challenges common narratives surrounding democracy, sovereignty, and America’s long relationship with the island.Mikael Wolfe is a historian, author, and lecturer at the Department of History at Stanford University whose research focuses on modern Latin America, Cuba, environmental history, and U.S.-Cuba relations. His work examines how politics, ideology, and resource conflicts have shaped Cuban society and its relationship with global powers.This episode is brought to you by NADclinic, the go-to destination for longevity and human performance. Check them out at https://nadclinic.com.What You’ll LearnWhy Cuba still matters strategically to the U.S.How Cuba’s system differs from Venezuela’sWhy Florida politics heavily shape Cuba policyWhy a U.S. intervention could happen but failHow sanctions deepened Cuba’s economic crisisWhy Obama’s Cuba policy briefly changed everythingWhether Cuba can reform without regime change⏱ Timestamps00:00 Intro00:14 Trump’s Intentions for Cuba02:25 Cuba vs. Iran vs. Venezuela06:10 Why Cuba Still Matters to the US10:34 The Politics Behind Regime Change16:26 Can Cuba Be Compared to Taiwan?20:23 Chances of a US Military Intervention24:42 What Happens Over the Next Six Months?25:46 Why Cuba Could Be the Next Target28:48 What Happened to “America First”?31:47 Rubio’s Influence on Cuba Policy38:04 The Castro Legacy40:47 Why an Intervention Could Fail41:33 Cuba’s Deepening Economic Crisis45:55 Is Cuba Really a National Security Threat?49:13 What Happens if the US Intervenes?51:19 Cuba, Iran, China & Russia53:36 Will Cuba Ever Become Democratic?57:34 Final Thoughts for the WorldFollow Mikael:Website: https://history.stanford.edu/people/mikael-wolfe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikael-wolfe-5789952aa Connect with Julian:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeyondtomorrowpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliankissa/ LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/julian-issa Website: www.beyondtomorrowpodcast.com Email: [email protected] Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube for more stories from the edge of what is possible.

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