Trump Warns Cuba to Strike Deal as Venezuelan Support Ends

US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a stark warning to Cuba, declaring that the Caribbean nation will no longer receive oil or financial support from Venezuela and urging Havana to negotiate a deal with Washington “before it is too late.”

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said there will be “no more oil or money going to Cuba – zero” and suggested that the island should seek an agreement with the United States without delay. He did not specify the terms of such a deal.

Cuba has long relied on subsidised Venezuelan oil to sustain its economy, but shipments have halted following recent US actions against Venezuelan leadership and a tightening of oil controls by Washington. Observers view Trump’s remarks as part of a broader strategy to pressure Cuba amid shifting regional dynamics.

Cuban officials, however, defended their nation’s sovereign right to import fuel from willing suppliers and denied receiving material compensation in return for security services abroad. In response to Trump’s comments, Cuba’s foreign minister emphasised that Havana will continue to pursue trade relations independently.

The warning comes against the backdrop of a deepening economic crisis in Cuba, marked by frequent blackouts, long lines for essentials and a reliance on external partners for energy supplies. Mexico has recently emerged as a minor alternative source of crude, though its contributions remain limited compared with historical Venezuelan support.

Tensions between the United States and Cuba have intensified following a US-led operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the reported deaths of Cuban personnel involved in security cooperation. Trump’s escalating rhetoric reflects a hardening stance on Cuba’s political and economic future.

Analysts say the situation poses significant challenges for Cuba’s leadership, which must navigate severe economic pressures while responding to growing international demands and regional uncertainties.