Trump threatens to cut off support to Cuba and calls for a deal with the US
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, 11 January, once again publicly escalated his rhetoric against Cuba, calling on the island's authorities to strike a deal with the United States. In a post on Truth Social, he said that Cuba has existed for many years thanks to oil and money from Venezuela, providing security services to the Venezuelan leadership in exchange, but that this support is now ending, reports DW.
According to Trump, neither oil nor financial resources will be coming to Cuba anymore, and he advised Havana to negotiate with Washington before it is too late, as he put it. At the same time, the US president did not specify what kind of deal he was talking about and what the consequences might be if Cuba refuses to negotiate.
Earlier in the day, Trump reposted a message suggesting that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, could become president of Cuba, adding that he liked the idea.
Trump's statements came after the events in Venezuela, where in early January, the US military captured Nicolas Maduro and brought him to the United States. After that, Washington announced its intention to lift the naval blockade of Venezuela, while taking control of its oil exports. Trump also said that after this operation, Cuba allegedly lost the ability to support the Venezuelan government.
The United States imposed a trade embargo on Cuba and severed diplomatic relations back in 1961. A partial warming of relations took place in 2015 under the presidency of Barack Obama, when the countries resumed diplomatic contacts. During Trump's first term, the policy towards Havana became tougher again, and under Joe Biden's presidency, Cuba was removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. After Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, the United States reintroduced a series of political sanctions against the Cuban leadership.
Photo: DW.
