U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Cuba that it must negotiate an agreement with the United States or face the cessation of Venezuelan oil and financial support that the island nation has long relied on, according to multiple reports. Trump made the remarks on his social media platform Truth Social, stating that there would be “no more oil or money going to Cuba—zero!” if Havana does not make a deal.
He urged Cuban leaders to act “before it is too late”, highlighting that Cuba had historically depended on large quantities of Venezuelan oil and financial assistance.
Context: Shift in Venezuela Policy
Trump’s comments follow recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, where U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro in a nighttime operation that resulted in the deaths of Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel. After the operation, some Venezuelan oil shipments have been redirected to the United States under interim leadership.
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Cuba’s economy is heavily reliant on Venezuelan oil, with shipments previously covering a substantial portion of the island’s energy deficit. The potential loss of this support could exacerbate longstanding economic issues.
Trump’s Broader Message
In his statement, Trump asserted that Venezuela “doesn’t need protection anymore” from those he labelled “thugs and extortionists,” and suggested the United States would now play a protective role for Venezuela.
He also reshared a post promoting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio—the son of Cuban immigrants—as a future president of Cuba, commenting “Sounds good to me!” on his Truth Social platform.
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Implications
Trump’s warning marks a significant escalation in U.S.–Cuba–Venezuela relations and underscores heightened U.S. pressure on Havana amid shifting alliances and energy dependencies in the region.
