U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Cuba on Sunday, urging the communist nation to "make a deal" or face consequences, declaring that the critical flow of subsidized oil and money from Venezuela has now been severed.
A Direct Warning from the White House
In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform, Trump escalated his rhetoric against the island nation located just 145 kilometres from Florida. "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!" the President stated emphatically. He followed with a pointed ultimatum: "I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE."
The provocative comments, made on January 11, 2026, did not specify the terms of any potential deal or what the repercussions might be if Cuba refuses. This warning marks a significant intensification of pressure on Havana, a long-time U.S. adversary and a decades-old ally of Venezuela's leftist governments.
The End of a Vital Economic Lifeline
The context for Trump's threat is the recent dramatic shift in Venezuela. His remarks come exactly one week after U.S. forces captured Venezuela's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a nighttime operation in Caracas. The raid reportedly resulted in dozens of casualties among Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel.
For years, Cuba's economy has been propped up by a crucial arrangement with Caracas. Since a deal struck in 2000 with the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, Havana has received heavily discounted oil in exchange for providing security and medical services. Trump explicitly highlighted this dynamic, stating, "Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela."
He claimed that in return, Cuba provided security for "the last two Venezuelan dictators," but declared that arrangement over. "Most of those Cubans are DEAD from last week’s U.S.A. attack, and Venezuela doesn’t need protection anymore," Trump asserted.
Rising Tensions and Regional Implications
This confrontation is unfolding against the backdrop of a deepening economic crisis in Cuba. Last week, Trump noted that "Cuba is ready to fall" and suggested it would be difficult for Havana to endure without Venezuelan support. The U.S. has maintained a comprehensive trade embargo against Cuba for decades, making the Venezuelan oil partnership essential for the island's survival.
In a move that further inflamed tensions, Trump reposted a message on Sunday suggesting that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio—a prominent Cuban-American politician—could become the president of Cuba, commenting, "Sounds good to me!"
Cuba's government swiftly rejected the characterization of its relationship with Venezuela. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez posted on X that Cuba has "never received monetary or material compensation for the security services it has provided to any country." He insisted that Havana has the right to import fuel from any exporter free from U.S. interference.
Trump's focus on Cuba signals an emboldened foreign policy stance following the operation in Venezuela. The President has recently hinted that other nations, including Colombia, Mexico, Iran, and even Greenland, could be in his sights, suggesting a period of heightened geopolitical activity for his administration.
