Trump predicts Cuba and US will make a deal

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - President ‌Donald Trump ​predicted ​on Saturday that the US and Cuba will reach an agreement and that he does not think military ‌action will be necessary.

"I would say that Cuba and ⁠us will make a deal. I don't think we'll need the ‌military," Trump told reporters at ‌the White House.

The Trump administration has openly stated that its goal is to change Cuba's government. A US-imposed oil ​blockade implemented earlier this year has put the country under severe strain as it contends with fuel shortages and ⁠blackouts exacerbated by failing infrastructure.

"We want to help Cuba," Trump said before departing for ​Tennessee. "We want to open Cuba up to our people."

In an address to the UN General Assembly ​on Tuesday, Trump called Cuba a ‌failed state and said "freedom will be coming" to the island nation. The Cuban delegation walked out ⁠of the hall during that speech.

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez said at the UN later on Saturday that Cuba will always be ⁠open for dialogue with the United States. He did not reference Trump's ​comments specifically.

"We are open to commercial and business relationships with US companies, just as we are with any other country," said Rodriguez, while ‌also strongly condemning a US trade embargo on Cuba.

The US has maintained the embargo on Cuba for ‌more than 60 years and the Trump administration has been ⁠stepping up pressure after using ‌the military in January ​to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Katharine Jackson, and Leila Miller; Editing by Sanjeev ‌Miglani)

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