US President Donald Trump sent a very strong message to Cuba on Sunday. On Truth Social, he wrote, “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO!” and said he “strongly suggests they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
Trump reminded that “Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela.” He said Cuba now has no income because Venezuela no longer sends it help, and repeated his belief that “Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall.”
What happened in Venezuela?
Just a week earlier, the United States carried out a big military action inside Venezuela. US forces captured Venezuela’s president, Nicolas Maduro, and took control of parts of the country. This high-profile operation has shocked many people around the world. Trump has said the attack was needed because Venezuela was tied to drug trafficking and posed threats to US interests.
Cuba’s reaction
Cuba’s president, Miguel Diaz-Canel while speaking at Havana last Saturday strongly criticised the United States. He said the US attack was “state terrorism” and condemned the seizure of Maduro as a terrible act. Diaz-Canel also said many Cubans died during the American operation, a claim not independently verified and called the US action a shocking violation of international law.
For many years, Venezuela helped Cuba by sending oil and cash. That support kept Cuba’s economy and energy system strong. Now, because Venezuela no longer does that and the US is blocking oil shipments, Cuba is set to face a crisis.
In some Cuban towns, people are already struggling with fuel shortages and long power cuts because oil supplies have stopped. One local resident told Al-Jazeera, “Now I think that with this situation, things will get worse, because now they won’t let oil come.”
Trump’s warnings to other countries
Trump did not just talk about Cuba. He also warned Mexico about drugs and offered help if Mexico wants US troops to fight cartels. He said to reporters on AirForce One, “Mexico has to get their act together because they’re [drugs] pouring through Mexico and we’re going to have to do something.”
He called Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, a “terrific person” and said he has offered support every time he speaks to her. Trump also criticised Colombia’s government and has made clear he believes US influence in the region should grow.