President Donald Trump on Wednesday downplayed the prospect of an "escalation" in Cuba amid ongoing talks with Havana and the Justice Department's indictment of Raul Castro.

"There won't be escalation. I don't think there needs to be. Look, the place is falling apart. It's a mess, and they've sort of lost control," he told reporters.

Trump has previously hinted at what he called a "friendly takeover" of Cuba as the island's government faces an economic and energy crisis and mounting domestic opposition.

Havana has confirmed talks with Washington and speculation has mounted that the U.S. may somehow force or otherwise encourage a transition of power from the communist regime.

Trump's remarks came the same day that the DOJ indicted Raul Castro, the brother of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, in connection with a 1996 attack on aircraft that killed three Americans.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.