US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Cuba, urging the communist-run island to "make a deal" with Washington or face unspecified consequences. The threat comes as Cuba braces for potential unrest following the recent ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that there will be no more oil or money flowing to Cuba, effectively cutting off a vital lifeline provided by Venezuela. He also warned that any opposition from Havana would lead to severe repercussions.
Trump's comments are part of a broader effort to exert pressure on Venezuela and its close ally, Cuba. The US has been seeking to reduce its reliance on Venezuelan oil exports, which have dwindled in recent years due to the country's economic crisis and strict oil blockade.
Cuba, however, remains dependent on cheap oil imports from Venezuela, with shipping data showing a significant decline in cargoes since last week's US-backed raid on Maduro's forces. The raid resulted in dozens of deaths and widespread chaos, with many fearing that Havana would collapse without its main source of revenue.
Trump has also reignited tensions between the US and Cuba by suggesting that former US congressman Marco Rubio could become the country's new president. Rubio's parents are Cuban immigrants, adding a personal touch to Trump's inflammatory remarks.
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel has vowed to defend his nation against any attack, stating that Havana will not be intimidated by Washington. The Venezuelan government has also rejected claims of an existing security crisis in the country, describing the US warnings as "fabricated accounts aimed at creating a perception of risk that does not exist".
As diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas continue to deteriorate, a $2 billion deal is being worked out to supply up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the US. The proposal includes funds to be deposited in US Treasury-supervised accounts, marking a significant test of Trump's relationship with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez.
With tensions running high, the situation in Venezuela remains volatile and unpredictable. The US has urged its citizens to leave the country immediately due to reports of armed paramilitaries tracking down American expats.
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that there will be no more oil or money flowing to Cuba, effectively cutting off a vital lifeline provided by Venezuela. He also warned that any opposition from Havana would lead to severe repercussions.
Trump's comments are part of a broader effort to exert pressure on Venezuela and its close ally, Cuba. The US has been seeking to reduce its reliance on Venezuelan oil exports, which have dwindled in recent years due to the country's economic crisis and strict oil blockade.
Cuba, however, remains dependent on cheap oil imports from Venezuela, with shipping data showing a significant decline in cargoes since last week's US-backed raid on Maduro's forces. The raid resulted in dozens of deaths and widespread chaos, with many fearing that Havana would collapse without its main source of revenue.
Trump has also reignited tensions between the US and Cuba by suggesting that former US congressman Marco Rubio could become the country's new president. Rubio's parents are Cuban immigrants, adding a personal touch to Trump's inflammatory remarks.
Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel has vowed to defend his nation against any attack, stating that Havana will not be intimidated by Washington. The Venezuelan government has also rejected claims of an existing security crisis in the country, describing the US warnings as "fabricated accounts aimed at creating a perception of risk that does not exist".
As diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas continue to deteriorate, a $2 billion deal is being worked out to supply up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the US. The proposal includes funds to be deposited in US Treasury-supervised accounts, marking a significant test of Trump's relationship with Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez.
With tensions running high, the situation in Venezuela remains volatile and unpredictable. The US has urged its citizens to leave the country immediately due to reports of armed paramilitaries tracking down American expats.
I'm so over this latest move by Trump. Cutting off oil imports from Cuba is just gonna make things worse for them, especially with tensions already high. Like, what's he expecting? Havana's gonna fold under pressure? 
The whole thing feels super petty and calculated to stir up drama. I mean, suggesting Marco Rubio as the new president is just plain desperate. 
And now this $2 billion deal that supposedly marks a breakthrough... yawn. Sounds like more empty promises to me. 
Can't we just have some constructive dialogue for once? 
. Cuba's got this, they can handle it on their own 
. And by the way, who needs an American president from Cuban descent? 
Marco Rubio's all about stirring up drama, let's not get caught up in that 
. It's time for Trump to chill and focus on the real issues instead of playing politics with Venezuela 
Seriously though, have you considered that Cuba's all about self-sufficiency? They're not exactly gonna fall apart if they can't get cheap oil from Venezuela 
. At least he's got some actual experience in politics 
I'm also kinda worried about the situation in Venezuela - all this tension and violence is getting out of control. It feels like a ticking time bomb over there. Can't wait to see how things play out! 
Interesting how Marco Rubio being Cuban could play a role in all this 
. Like, think about how much that's going to affect everyday Cubans who are already struggling. It's not just about politics, it's about people losing their livelihoods and basic necessities 
. What's next, an economic blockade that'll strangle the entire island? It's time for some calm and rational thinking from Trump 
.
, but I'm not sure how effective it'll be. Cuba needs that oil to survive, and now they're gonna cut them off? That's like taking away a country's air to breathe 
. What's the plan here? Are we gonna let Cuba go bankrupt or something? And what about Venezuela? We're just pouring more fuel into the fire 
. And what about human rights concerns? We're supposed to be the land of freedom and democracy, but it looks like we're more interested in exerting control over other countries 
. This is just gonna end badly 
lets hope someone can talk trump down from this ledge 
. Venezuela's in chaos, let them sort it out 
i mean, they're like a party in your mouth! and, btw, has anyone else noticed how hard it is to find good deals on gaming laptops lately? 
i swear, all the cool specs are going for like, $2k+ now...
.
. It's time for some real diplomacy and understanding between Washington and Havana - instead of just trash talk on social media 
.
I mean, they're already struggling with economic sanctions and a shortage of basic goods. Cutting off oil imports from Venezuela is gonna make things even tougher for them. What's the point of exerting pressure if it just leads to more suffering? 
. He's basically saying "make a deal or face consequences" which sounds kinda harsh but what if it works? 
... Trump's just being super aggressive, like, what's the point of threatening them? They're not exactly swimming in cash anyway 
...