Donald Trump has directed his attention towards Cuba, urging the country to negotiate with the US “before it’s too late.” The US president cautioned Cuba about the halt in oil and financial support from Venezuela, its longtime ally and primary oil provider. Venezuela reportedly supplies approximately 35,000 barrels of oil daily to Cuba. Following the apprehension of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, by US forces in Caracas on January 3, Trump influenced interim president Delcy Rodriguez to reroute Venezuelan oil to the US.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Cuba has been heavily reliant on oil and financial backing from Venezuela for many years. In exchange, Cuba provided ‘Security Services’ for the past two Venezuelan dictators, but that’s changing now!” He emphasized that there would be no further oil or financial aid sent to Cuba and advised them to engage in negotiations promptly.
The specifics of the deal Trump is seeking from Cuba and the potential repercussions the country might face remain undisclosed. Cuba has historically dispatched various personnel to Venezuela, including doctors, nurses, military advisors, and members of Maduro’s security team. The Cuban government confirmed that 32 nationals, serving as Maduro’s bodyguards, perished during the January 3 operation. President Miguel Díaz-Canel hailed them as “courageous Cuban combatants” who would be remembered for confronting the assailants in “imperial uniforms.”
In his recent Truth Social post, Trump mentioned, “The majority of those Cubans were casualties in the recent US attack, and Venezuela no longer requires protection from the individuals who have oppressed them for years. Venezuela now has the United States of America, the world’s most formidable military force, to safeguard them, and safeguard them we shall.”
As of now, the Cuban government has not issued a response to Trump’s latest warnings. While US intelligence reports on Cuba’s economic and political situation paint a grim picture, insider sources familiar with confidential assessments have indicated that there is limited evidence to support Trump’s assertion that the country is on the brink of collapse post-Maduro’s capture.