U.S. President Donald Trump said Cuba should strike a deal with the United States, warning that the island nation would no longer receive oil or financial support.
Writing on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday (11 January), Trump said, "There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba-zero. I strongly suggest they make a deal, before it is too late."
Trump did not explain how the United States would enforce any halt to oil supplies or financial support, or what form a potential deal with Cuba might take.
He said Cuba had survived for many years on large amounts of oil and money from Venezuela.
Venezuela is Cuba's biggest oil supplier, but no cargoes have departed from Venezuelan ports to the Caribbean country since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in early January amid a strict U.S. oil blockade on the OPEC country, shipping data shows.
Relations with the United States have remained strained under decades of U.S. sanctions and trade restrictions.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel rejected Trump's threat on social media, suggesting the U.S. had no moral authority to force a deal on Cuba.
"Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. Nobody dictates what we do," Diaz-Canel said on X.
"Cuba does not attack; it has been attacked by the U.S. for 66 years, and it does not threaten; it prepares, ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood."
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said in another post on X on Sunday that Cuba had the right to import fuel from any suppliers willing to export it.
He also denied that Cuba had received financial or other "material" compensation in return for security services provided to any country.
Thirty-two members of Cuba's armed forces and intelligence services were killed during the U.S. raid on Venezuela on 3 January. Cuba said those killed were responsible for "security and defence" but did not provide details on the arrangement between the two long-time allies.
Cuba relies on imported crude and fuel mainly provided by Venezuela, and Mexico in smaller volumes, purchased on the open market to keep its power generators and vehicles running.
As its operational refining capacity dwindled in recent years, Venezuela's supply of crude and fuel to Cuba has fallen. But the South American country is still the largest provider with some 26,500 barrels per day exported last year, according to ship tracking data and internal documents of state-run PDVSA, which covered roughly 50% of Cuba's oil deficit.
Havana produce vendor Alberto Jimenez, 45, said Cuba would not back down in the face of Trump's threat.
“That doesn't scare me. Not at all. The Cuban people are prepared for anything," Jimenez said.
It's hard for many Cubans to imagine a situation much worse. The island's government has been struggling to keep the lights on. A majority live without electricity for much of the day, and even the capital Havana has seen its economy crippled by hours-long rolling blackouts.
Shortages of food, fuel and medicine have put Cubans on edge and have prompted a record-breaking exodus, primarily to the United States, in the past five years.
Mexico becomes key supplier
Mexico has emerged in recent weeks as a critical alternative oil supplier to the island, but the supply remains small, according to the shipping data.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum last week said her country had not increased supply volumes, but given recent political events in Venezuela, Mexico had turned into an "important supplier" of crude to Cuba.
U.S. intelligence has painted a grim picture of Cuba's economic and political situation, but its assessments offer no clear support for Trump's prediction that the island is "ready to fall," Reuters reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the confidential assessments.
The CIA's view is that key sectors of the Cuban economy, such as agriculture and tourism, are severely strained by frequent blackouts, trade sanctions and other problems. The potential loss of oil imports and other support from Venezuela could make governing more difficult for Diaz-Canel.
South Korea has welcomed a rare conciliatory response from North Korea, calling it a “meaningful step” towards easing military tensions...
Israel has stepped up what it calls extensive attacks on Iranian infrastructure, despite a Pakistan‑backed ceasefire proposal. Iran says it will ...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top ...
Oil prices climbed sharply on Tuesday as the world watched anxiously for a U.S.-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the cruci...
At least 10 people have died and several others were wounded after an Israeli airstrike on a neighbourhood outside a school sheltering displaced Pa...
International law experts from across the U.S., including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, have signed an open letter saying the strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes. America and Israel began airstrikes on 28 February on Iran's capital, Tehran.
American President Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday to pull the United States out of NATO after European nations refused to join a U.S.-led naval mission to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
“He is not… the owner!” U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon wrote, temporarily halting construction of President Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom, underscoring a cascade of legal, regulatory and public opposition that has engulfed the controversial expansion.
Iran is “essentially… no longer a threat,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (1 April), signalling what he described as the final phase of the war with Iran. In a televised address from the White House, Trump stated the U.S.-led campaign "Operation Epic Fury" was nearing completion.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday told reporters that Iran could be taken out in one night, "and that night might be tomorrow night," warning Tehran it had to make a deal by Tuesday night or face wider bombing raids.
The crew of Artemis II mission are entering a pivotal phase of their journey, as they prepare to swing around the Moon and head back towards Earth. Now on the fifth day of their 10-day mission, the four astronauts are already witnessing views no human has ever seen.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran's energy and transport infrastructure in a social media post containing expletives on Sunday (5 April), as he seperately gave Iran a deadline of Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
A new proposal to end hostilities between the United States and Iran could come into effect as soon as Monday, potentially reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the plan said on Monday.
As Hungary approaches a crucial vote, younger citizens who grew up under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are increasingly backing the opposition, with some saying they may leave if he secures another term.
South Korea has welcomed a rare conciliatory response from North Korea, calling it a “meaningful step” towards easing military tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 7 April, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has travelled to Hungary in a show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as the country prepares for what is expected to be a tightly fought parliamentary election.
As Hungary approaches a crucial vote, younger citizens who grew up under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are increasingly backing the opposition, with some saying they may leave if he secures another term.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged EU prosecutors to speed up their probe into politicians from his party who are under investigation for fraud. The EU has asked to investigate 11 conservative MPs who are currently protected by parliamentary immunity.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment