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US President Donald Trump expected on Saturday that the United States and Cuba will reach an agreement, indicating that he does not believe that resorting to military action will be necessary.
Trump told reporters at the White House, "I would like to say that we will reach an agreement with Cuba. I do not think we will need the military".
The Trump administration has explicitly stated that it seeks to overthrow the Cuban government.
An oil embargo imposed by the United States earlier this year has put the country under severe pressure, as it faces fuel shortages and power outages exacerbated by deteriorating infrastructure.
Before leaving for Tennessee, Trump said, "We want to help Cuba... We want to open Cuba's (doors) to our people".
In a speech to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump described Cuba as a failed state and said it would gain "freedom". The Cuban delegation left the hall during the speech.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez told the UN later that his country would always be open to dialogue with the United States. He did not specifically mention Trump's remarks.
He added, "We are open to establishing trade relations with American companies, as we do with any other country" but strongly condemned the US trade embargo on Cuba.
The United States maintains the embargo on Cuba for over 60 years, but the Trump administration has increased pressure after using military force in January to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
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