Donald Trump has directed attention towards Cuba, urging the country to negotiate with the United States “before it’s too late.” The US president cautioned Cuba about the disruption of oil and financial support from Venezuela, its key ally and primary oil supplier. Venezuela reportedly sends approximately 35,000 barrels of oil daily to Cuba. Following the US operation that apprehended Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his spouse Cilia Flores in Caracas on January 3, Trump successfully persuaded interim president Delcy Rodriguez to reroute Venezuelan oil to the US.
In a message on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Cuba has long benefitted from substantial oil and financial aid from Venezuela. In exchange, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the previous two Venezuelan dictators, but this is no longer the case! There will be no more oil or financial assistance sent to Cuba – none! I strongly recommend they come to an agreement before it’s too late.”
The specifics of the deal Trump is seeking from Cuba and the potential repercussions for the country remain undisclosed. Cuba has historically supplied various personnel to Venezuela, including medical professionals, military advisors, and members of Maduro’s security team. The Cuban government reported that 32 of its citizens, who served as bodyguards for Maduro, were killed during the January 3 operation. President Miguel Díaz-Canel hailed them as “courageous Cuban fighters” who would be honored for confronting the assailants.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump remarked, “The majority of those Cubans have perished in the recent US attack, and Venezuela no longer requires protection from the criminals and exploiters who held them captive for many years. Venezuela now has the backing of the United States of America, the most formidable military force globally, to safeguard them, and safeguard them we shall.”
The Cuban government has yet to respond to Trump’s latest ultimatums. Although US intelligence reports have portrayed a grim outlook on Cuba’s economic and political situation, undisclosed sources familiar with confidential assessments noted that Trump’s assertion that the nation is on the brink of collapse following Maduro’s capture lacks substantial evidence, as per Reuters.
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