President Donald Trump said the United States and Cuba will reach an agreement, and he played down the prospect of military force against the island, according to reports from Brazilian outlets G1 and CNN Brasil on Saturday.
Trump said the use of force should not be necessary, CNN Brasil reported. G1 reported that he ruled out military action on the island.
The comments were also carried by Investing.com Brasil, which attributed them to Reuters.
The statements come amid separate reporting on US preparations in the region. Gazeta do Povo reported that the United States is making preparations for a military operation in Cuba, citing a broadcaster. UOL Notícias, also citing a television report, said the US is readying support units for possible military action in Cuba.
Those accounts describe planning and preparation, not a decision to act, and they are attributed to broadcasters rather than to US officials. No details were given in the available reporting on the scope of any preparations or on what a US-Cuba agreement would cover.
Trump's remarks were reported as a prediction that a deal would be reached, without a timeline or terms attached. The available material does not include comment from the Cuban government or from US defense officials.
What to watch next: whether Washington or Havana confirms talks, and whether the reported military preparations are acknowledged or dropped.