Donald Trump has warned Cuba to “make a deal” or face consequences after the United States began seizing Venezuelan oil shipments. The former president said the flow of Venezuelan oil and money to the island would stop immediately.
This escalation follows a 3 January US raid on Caracas targeting Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro. Cuba has long depended on Venezuela, which supplies around 35,000 barrels of oil daily, while also providing security support to Maduro.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “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.”
Cuba’s government responded firmly. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said the country has the right to import fuel from any willing exporter without US interference. President Miguel Diaz-Canel added, “No one dictates what we do,” emphasizing Cuba’s independence.
The US seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers has already worsened Cuba’s fuel and electricity shortages.
Trump said Venezuela no longer needs Cuban protection, noting, “Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World, to protect them.” Rodriguez countered that Cuba never received payment for the security services it provided abroad.
Diaz-Canel criticized US accusations, stating, “Those who turn everything into a business, even human lives, have no moral authority to point fingers at Cuba.” He framed the US pressure as a reaction to Cuba’s sovereign choice of political system.
