U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a blunt warning to Cuba, demanding it strike a deal soon as Venezuelan oil and funds dry up under U.S. pressure.
The threat follows a January 3 U.S. raid capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas, where they face drug charges. Cuba relies on Venezuela for about 35,000 barrels of oil daily, but U.S. seizures of five sanctioned tankers—including one last Friday—have worsened fuel and power shortages on the island.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez defended fuel imports as a right, stating the nation holds “the absolute right to import fuel” without U.S. “interference or subordination.”
Trump fired back on Truth Social: “Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE! THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
He noted 32 Cuban guards died in the raid and pledged U.S. military protection for Venezuela. Rodriguez denied any payment for services.
Trump reposted suggestions of Marco Rubio as Cuba’s future leader, saying “Sounds good to me!” while Rubio warned Havana faces severe trouble.
This fits Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine” targeting Latin American leftists, amid strains since Castro’s 1959 revolution and Trump’s reinstated terrorism label. Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel hit back, claiming no moral authority for U.S. critics.