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Donald Trump has sharply escalated tensions with Cuba, warning the communist-
led island to “make a deal, before it is too late.” His statement comes at a critical
moment for Cuba, as the country faces a growing fuel and electricity crisis after
the collapse of its main energy lifeline from Venezuela.
Trump’s warning follows a dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Latin America,
particularly after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a
January 3 raid in Caracas. Venezuela has long been Cuba’s closest ally and its most
important oil supplier. With that alliance now broken, Cuba finds itself under
intense economic and political pressure.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that Venezuelan oil and
money would no longer flow to Cuba. He did not explain what kind of deal Cuba
should make or what consequences might follow if it refuses. Still, his message was
clear and forceful.
“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!” Trump wrote. “I
strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
For decades, Cuba has relied heavily on subsidized Venezuelan oil to keep its
economy functioning. Experts estimate that Venezuela was sending around
35,000 barrels of oil per day to the island. This supply helped Cuba generate
electricity, fuel transportation, and support basic services despite long-standing
U.S. sanctions.
That flow has now stopped.
Since Maduro’s capture, the United States has begun confiscating Venezuelan oil
tankers accused of carrying sanctioned. On Friday alone, U.S. authorities seized
a fifth tanker. Shipping data shows that no Venezuelan oil cargoes have left for
Cuba since last week, leaving the island facing severe shortages.
The effects are already being felt across Cuba. Power outages have increased, fuel
rationing has tightened, and public transportation has been disrupted. Many
Cubans fear the country could be heading toward another economic collapse
similar to the “Special Period” of the 1990s, when the fall of the Soviet Union
plunged the island into extreme hardship.
Trump has openly linked Cuba’s crisis to its long relationship with Venezuela.
According to him, Cuba survived for years on Venezuelan oil and money in
exchange for providing security services to Venezuelan leaders.
“Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela.”
Trump said. “In return, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the last two
Venezuelan dictators.”
Cuba has strongly rejected this claim. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said the
country never received payment for security assistance and acted out of solidarity.
He also insisted that Cuba has the sovereign right to import fuel from any country
it chooses, without U.S. interference.
“Cuba has the absolute right to import fuel without subordination to unilateral
coercive measures,” Rodríguez said, adding that Cuba does not submit to
blackmail or military threats.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel also responded defiantly. He said no foreign power has
the authority to dictate Cuba’s decisions and vowed to defend the country’s
independence.
“Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation,” Díaz-Canel said. “No one tells
us what to do.”
The Cuban government also confirmed that 32 Cuban nationals were killed during
the U.S. operation in Caracas. These individuals were reportedly part of
Venezuela’s security apparatus. Trump claimed that most of those Cubans were
killed during the raid and argued that Venezuela no longer needs Cuban
protection.
“Venezuela now has the United States of America to protect them,” Trump said,
describing the U.S. military as the most powerful force in the world.
While Trump has not announced any direct military plans against Cuba, he has
previously suggested that such action may not be necessary. He has said the
country is “ready to fall” due to its deep economic crisis and growing internal
pressure.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced that message last week, saying that
Cuba’s leaders should be worried and that they are “in a lot of trouble.” Rubio, a
Cuban-American and longtime critic of Havana’s government, has become one of
the most influential figures in Trump’s foreign policy team.
On Sunday, Trump reposted a viral message joking that Rubio could become
president of Cuba. Trump replied, “Sounds good to me!” The comment was widely
shared online and seen as both humorous and provocative, reflecting the
administration’s aggressive tone toward Havana.
Rubio himself has become the subject of internet memes due to his expanding role
in the administration. Officially, he serves as secretary of state, national security
advisor, and acting archivist of the United States. Online users have jokingly
portrayed him as president of multiple countries, including Cuba and Venezuela.
Rubio has responded to the jokes with humor, but the political message behind
Trump’s repost was unmistakable.
Trump’s approach to Cuba fits into a broader strategy he has described as a revival
of the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, which asserted U.S. dominance in the Western
Hemisphere. Trump has rebranded this idea as the “Donroe Doctrine,” emphasizing
strong U.S. control over Latin America.
In recent months, U.S. policy has increasingly focused on left-wing governments in
the region. Trump has justified aggressive actions by claiming they are necessary
to combat drug trafficking and instability. Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, and now
Cuba have all become targets of sharp rhetoric and pressure.
After the raid on Caracas, Trump even suggested that a military operation against
Colombia “sounds good,” warning its president to “watch his ass.” The United
States has already imposed sanctions on Colombia’s left-wing president, Gustavo
Petro, accusing him of allowing drug cartels to flourish.
Trump has also repeatedly accused Mexico of allowing drugs to pour into the U.S.
and has offered to send American troops to fight cartels. Mexico’s president has
firmly rejected any U.S. military presence on Mexican soil.
Against this backdrop, Cuba’s situation looks increasingly fragile. The country has
faced decades of U.S. sanctions, limited access to global markets, declining
tourism, and rising inflation. The loss of Venezuelan oil has only deepened the
crisis.
Trump recently reinstated Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, a
move that further restricts trade and access to international finance. This decision
reversed a last-minute move by former President Joe Biden to lift the designation.
Cuban leaders argue that U.S. pressure only strengthens their resolve. Díaz-Canel
accused Washington of turning everything into a business, even human lives, and
said the Cuban people have the right to choose their own political system.
Still, the situation remains extremely tense. Trump has not explained what kind of
deal he expects Cuba to make. Analysts believe Washington could be seeking
political reforms, reduced ties with U.S. adversaries, or cooperation on security and
migration issues.
For now, Cuba appears unwilling to negotiate under threat. As fuel shortages
worsen and economic pressure increases, the coming weeks could determine
whether Cuba faces widespread unrest or finds alternative sources of support.
What is clear is that Trump’s warning has placed Cuba at the center of a renewed
geopolitical confrontation. With Venezuelan oil cut off and U.S. pressure
intensifying, the island is once again facing one of the most difficult moments in
its modern history.
Whether Trump’s strategy will force change or deepen confrontation remains
uncertain. But one thing is undeniable: U.S.–Cuba relations have entered a new and
dangerous phase.
