Monday, January 12, 2026- President Donald Trump has sharply escalated pressure on Cuba, urging the island nation to strike an unspecified agreement with Washington “before it is too late.”
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that Cuba will no longer receive Venezuelan oil or financial support, a lifeline that has sustained the country’s economy amid deepening shortages and frequent blackouts. He bluntly stated, “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!” and warned Havana that time is running out to negotiate terms with the U.S. administration. Trump did not detail what kind of deal he has in mind or the specific consequences if Cuba refuses.
The ultimatum comes one week after U.S. forces carried out a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, a longtime Cuban ally, and the deaths of dozens of Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel.
Trump framed Cuba’s reliance on Venezuelan oil and funds as part of a broader regional realignment and insisted Venezuela no longer needs Cuban security support because the United States he says now provides military protection. Economists and regional analysts warn that cutting off Venezuelan energy flows could deepen Cuba’s economic crisis, worsening shortages of fuel, electricity and basic supplies.
Havana has responded defiantly. Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel rejected the suggestion that Cuba must negotiate on U.S. terms, asserting that no foreign power dictates Cuban policy and defending the nation’s sovereign right to seek fuel and trade partners independently.
Cuban officials also highlighted the longstanding economic impact of U.S. sanctions, which Havana says have cost the country billions of dollars in recent years. With tensions rising, the standoff underscores a volatile moment in U.S.–Cuba relations and raises urgent questions about regional stability and Cuba’s economic survival unless diplomatic channels are opened swiftly.
0 Comments