Donald Trump has directed his attention towards Cuba, calling on the country to negotiate with the United States “before it’s too late.” The US president has cautioned Cuba that the flow of oil and financial support from Venezuela, its main oil provider and long-time ally, will cease. The US has reportedly influenced the redirection of Venezuelan oil to the US after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his spouse by US forces on January 3.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump highlighted that Cuba had benefitted from significant oil and financial aid from Venezuela in exchange for providing security services to past Venezuelan dictators. However, Trump emphasized that this support would no longer continue, urging Cuba to reach a deal promptly.
Details of the specific deal Trump is seeking from Cuba and the potential consequences for Cuba remain undisclosed. Cuba has historically supplied various personnel to Venezuela, including medical professionals, military advisors, and security personnel for Maduro. Following the recent raid in Venezuela, where Cuban nationals serving as Maduro’s bodyguards were killed, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel praised them as courageous fighters.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump mentioned the casualties among Cuban personnel in the raid and asserted that Venezuela no longer required protection from previous oppressors. He reassured that the US military, being the most powerful globally, would ensure Venezuela’s security.
As of now, the Cuban government has not responded to Trump’s warnings. Despite US intelligence reports painting a grim economic and political outlook for Cuba, sources familiar with confidential assessments doubt Trump’s assertion that Cuba is on the brink of collapse post Maduro’s capture.
