US President Donald Trump has issued another stern warning to Cuba, following the ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as a close ally. With Venezuela's oil supply now cut off to its Cuban counterpart, Trump sees an opportunity for a "deal" that could prevent further economic and social crises on the island.
The US president claims Cuba long benefited from Venezuela's rich oil resources and financial support, but no longer. Trump declared, "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO!" as he spent his weekend at a home in southern Florida. His words echoed an earlier statement, which predicted that the island's communist government would collapse under the weight of US sanctions.
Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded by criticizing those who turn human lives into business, including the US. "those who turn everything into a business... have no moral authority to point the finger at Cuba," he said.
The crisis unfolded as 32 Cuban military personnel were killed during an American operation that captured Maduro last weekend. The personnel were in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, under an agreement between Cuba and Venezuela. Trump described this situation as "Venezuela doesn't need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years."
Trump's aggressive stance towards Cuba has been a long-held position of his administration. Before Maduro's capture, the island faced severe blackouts, long lines at gas stations and supermarkets amid its worst economic crisis in decades. Trump predicted that US sanctions on Cuba would further destabilize the country.
Cuba claims that US sanctions have cost it more than $7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025. The situation remains volatile as Trump continues to warn Havana of dire consequences unless a deal is made before it's "too late."
The US president claims Cuba long benefited from Venezuela's rich oil resources and financial support, but no longer. Trump declared, "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO!" as he spent his weekend at a home in southern Florida. His words echoed an earlier statement, which predicted that the island's communist government would collapse under the weight of US sanctions.
Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded by criticizing those who turn human lives into business, including the US. "those who turn everything into a business... have no moral authority to point the finger at Cuba," he said.
The crisis unfolded as 32 Cuban military personnel were killed during an American operation that captured Maduro last weekend. The personnel were in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, under an agreement between Cuba and Venezuela. Trump described this situation as "Venezuela doesn't need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years."
Trump's aggressive stance towards Cuba has been a long-held position of his administration. Before Maduro's capture, the island faced severe blackouts, long lines at gas stations and supermarkets amid its worst economic crisis in decades. Trump predicted that US sanctions on Cuba would further destabilize the country.
Cuba claims that US sanctions have cost it more than $7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025. The situation remains volatile as Trump continues to warn Havana of dire consequences unless a deal is made before it's "too late."