In a dramatic escalation of hemispheric pressure, former U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a stark warning to Cuba through his Truth Social platform, declaring that the island nation will no longer receive petroleum or financial support from Venezuela. The statement signals a significant shift in regional energy politics following recent developments in Caracas.
Trump’s social media proclamation on Sunday explicitly stated: “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” This ultimatum comes amid substantial geopolitical realignments in the region, particularly regarding Venezuela’s oil exports.
The strategic context involves Venezuela’s status as Cuba’s primary petroleum supplier, a relationship that has undergone radical transformation since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces. Intelligence assessments indicate that Trump has successfully persuaded interim President Delcy Rodriguez to redirect Venezuelan oil shipments toward the United States instead of Cuba.
This energy blockade poses existential challenges for Havana. Shipping data and documents from Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA reveal that between January and November last year, Venezuela supplied approximately 27,000 barrels per day to Cuba, covering nearly half of the island’s petroleum deficit. The potential termination of this energy lifeline coincides with already severe economic strains within Cuba’s critical sectors including agriculture and tourism, exacerbated by frequent blackouts and international trade sanctions.
While U.S. intelligence agencies acknowledge Cuba’s deteriorating economic situation, they provide no substantiation for Trump’s assertion that the communist government is “ready to fall.” The CIA assessment portrays a nation struggling under multiple pressures but maintains stability through decades of institutional control established since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.
The ultimatum represents the latest chapter in the complex triangular relationship between Washington, Havana, and Caracas, with energy resources serving as both economic necessity and geopolitical instrument in Western Hemisphere diplomacy.