US defense secretary continues ramp-up of pressure against country including sanctions and devastating oil blockade

Pete Hegseth has warned Cuba against acquiring weapons that could threaten the United States, during a visit to the US military base at Guantánamo Bay.

Washington has ramped up pressure against Cuba with sanctions and a devastating oil blockade, and Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled that the Cuban government could be the next after Venezuela to fall to US pressure.

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© Photograph: Phil Stewart/Reuters

© Photograph: Phil Stewart/Reuters

© Photograph: Phil Stewart/Reuters

The trip comes as the Trump administration pushes for political and economic changes on the island.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Nancy Lacore, ousted by Pete Hegseth last year, heads to a run-off in race for Nancy Mace’s seat

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A three-star navy rear-admiral fired by Pete Hegseth last year in the defense secretary’s purge of senior US military officials advanced to a Democratic run-off in a closely-watched congressional race in South Carolina.

Nancy Lacore, who served 35 years in the navy, was chief of the navy reserve when she was ousted by Hegseth in August.

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© Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA

© Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA

© Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPA

The late night host called Trump “the first sitting president to shut down a major United States city so he could take a nap in front of a sold-out crowd at the N.B.A. finals.”

Nancy Lacore would face a tough fall election in a district drawn in 2021 to be more Republican. She is seeking to replace Representative Nancy Mace, who ran unsuccessfully for governor instead of running for re-election.

© Shawn Thew/EPA, via Shutterstock