Donald Trump has turned his attention to Cuba, calling on the country to negotiate with the US “before it’s too late.” The US president has cautioned Cuba that the flow of oil and financial support from Venezuela, its longtime ally and primary oil provider, will cease. Venezuela typically sends approximately 35,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba. However, following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by US forces in Caracas on January 3, Trump has pushed interim president Delcy Rodriguez to redirect Venezuelan oil to the US.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump highlighted Cuba’s historical reliance on oil and finances from Venezuela in exchange for providing “Security Services” to the previous Venezuelan dictators. He emphasized that this support will no longer continue, stating, “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
The specific terms of the deal Trump is seeking from Cuba and the potential repercussions for the country have not been disclosed. Cuba has traditionally supplied personnel to Venezuela, including medical professionals, military advisors, and members of Maduro’s security team. The Cuban government reported that 32 of its nationals, who served as Maduro’s bodyguards, were killed during the January 3 operation. President Miguel Díaz-Canel hailed them as “brave Cuban combatants” who would be recognized for confronting the assailants.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned the casualties among the Cuban security personnel, asserting that Venezuela no longer requires protection from those who previously exploited them. He emphasized that the United States, possessing the strongest military globally, is now responsible for safeguarding Venezuela.
As of now, there has been no official response from the Cuban government regarding Trump’s ultimatums. Despite US intelligence painting a grim picture of Cuba’s economic and political situation, confidential assessments reported by Reuters suggest little substantiation for Trump’s belief that the country is on the brink of collapse following Maduro’s capture.
