Donald Trump has called on Cuba to “make a deal” with the United States, warning of serious consequences and announcing that the flow of Venezuelan oil and financial support to the island will come to an end.
The U.S. president has increasingly focused on Cuba since American forces carried out a 3 January raid in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, resulting in the capture of the country’s leader, Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuela, a long-standing ally of Cuba, is believed to supply the island with approximately 35,000 barrels of oil per day. Trump stated that these shipments would now be terminated.
“Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE! THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday.
Trump did not outline what such a deal would entail, nor did he specify the exact consequences Cuba might face if it refuses.
He also referred to the operation that led to the arrest of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both of whom are facing charges in a U.S. court related to drug trafficking and other alleged crimes.
For years, Cuba has reportedly provided Maduro with his personal security detail. The Cuban government stated that 32 of its nationals were killed during the U.S. operation in Caracas.
“Most of those Cubans are DEAD from last week’s USA attack, and Venezuela doesn’t need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years,” Trump said.
He added that Venezuela would now be protected by “the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!),” emphasizing Washington’s commitment to safeguarding the country.
The Cuban government has not yet responded to Trump’s latest remarks. Previously, President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the 32 “brave Cuban combatants” killed in Venezuela would be honored for “confronting terrorists in imperial uniforms.”
While the Trump administration has not announced a clear strategy toward Cuba, the U.S. president has previously argued that military intervention would be unnecessary, claiming the country was “ready to fall.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested last week that Cuba’s leadership should be deeply concerned, saying that if he were in their position, he would be worried and that “they’re in a lot of trouble.”
On Sunday, Trump also reposted a message on social media suggesting that Rubio — a Cuban-American former Florida senator and the son of Cuban exiles — could one day become president of Cuba. Trump shared the post with the comment: “Sounds good to me!”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s policy of seizing sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers has already begun to worsen Cuba’s ongoing fuel shortages and electricity crisis.
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