Trump says Cuba will no longer receive Venezuelan oil, money

(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has warned that Cuba will no longer receive oil or financial support from Venezuela, urging the island’s government to reach an agreement with Washington “before it’s too late.” “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!” he wrote on social media, highlighting Cuba’s long-standing reliance on Venezuelan assistance. “Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela,” Trump added, framing the relationship as one where Cuba provided “security services” in return.

The Cuban government has been heavily dependent on subsidized oil from Venezuela, but those supplies have diminished since early January amid a strict blockade and disruptions in Venezuelan shipments, which have reportedly stopped entirely after the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. In that operation, dozens of Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel were killed, and Trump later asserted that Cuba is “ready to fall” given its economic struggles and the loss of energy imports. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he wrote.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel dismissed Trump’s ultimatum, asserting that his government will not be compelled to accept terms dictated by the United States. “Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation. Nobody dictates what we do,” Díaz-Canel wrote, saying that Havana has endured extended pressure from Washington and stands prepared to defend itself if necessary.

While Trump’s announcement suggests a seal-tight embargo on Cuban support from Venezuela, the situation on the ground reflects some complexity: the island continues to import fuel from Mexico and Russia, which partially mitigates the immediate impact of the Venezuelan cutoff. Nevertheless, Cuba’s economy remains under severe strain, compounded by longstanding US sanctions and the broader regional disruption stemming from actions in Venezuela.

The administration’s stance toward Cuba has grown increasingly assertive, with senior officials indicating that the aim is to compel political change in Havana, rather than merely deepen economic hardship. At the same time, there are reported discussions involving Venezuela’s oil sector — including potential deals that would channel Venezuelan crude supplies to the United States with proceeds held under Treasury oversight — underscoring the evolving geopolitical and economic dynamics in the region.

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