U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that no more Venezuelan oil or money would be sent to Cuba, urging the Communist-run island to strike a deal with Washington. The move comes amid heightened U.S. pressure following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in early January, which has effectively halted Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” highlighting Cuba’s historical dependence on Venezuelan oil and funds.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded defiantly on social media, asserting that Cuba is “a free, independent, and sovereign nation” and rejecting U.S. attempts to dictate policy. “Cuba does not attack; it has been attacked by the U.S. for 66 years, and it does not threaten; it prepares, ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood,” he said.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also emphasized Cuba’s right to import fuel from any willing suppliers and denied any material compensation was provided for Cuban personnel killed during the U.S. raid in Venezuela, which claimed the lives of 32 members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence services.
Cuba remains heavily reliant on imported crude and fuel, mainly from Venezuela, with Mexico providing a smaller but increasingly critical supply. Shipping data indicates Venezuela exported roughly 26,500 barrels per day to Cuba last year, covering about half of the island’s oil deficit.
Despite the ongoing U.S. threats, many Cubans express resilience. Vendor Alberto Jimenez said, “That doesn’t scare me. Not at all. The Cuban people are prepared for anything.” However, ordinary residents face severe shortages of electricity, fuel, and food, contributing to growing unrest and emigration.
The U.S. intelligence community acknowledges Cuba’s economic and political strains but does not predict an imminent collapse, contrary to Trump’s suggestion that the island is “ready to fall.”
Source: Reuters
