Trump announced the start of contacts with Cuba amid pressure over oil
US President Donald Trump announced that the United States is beginning talks with Cuban leaders. He made this statement to journalists on Saturday evening aboard Air Force One during a flight to Florida. The White House did not provide any details about the level or timing of the contacts, limiting itself to a statement about the start of negotiations. This was reported by The Public with reference to APnews.
The statement came amid steps by the US administration to increase pressure on the island. Last week, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on any goods from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba. Earlier, Washington stopped oil supplies from Venezuela after the removal of its then-president Nicolas Maduro, forcing Havana to rely heavily on imports from Mexico.
These decisions directly affect Mexico. The country's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, warned that the restrictions could provoke a humanitarian crisis in Cuba and announced her intention to seek alternative ways to support the island. At the same time, Trump is convinced that the situation can be avoided if Havana agrees to a deal with Washington.
The American president expressed confidence that pressure over oil would eventually force the Cuban authorities to sit down at the negotiating table, adding that the US was prepared to act gently if agreements were reached. At the same time, the White House's official goals regarding Cuba remain unclear, despite the Trump administration's increased attention to the region in recent weeks.
