Cuba Stands Firm After Trump Threatens to Cut Venezuelan Oil and Support

Post by : Saif Nasser

Cuba has reacted strongly after U.S. President Donald Trump said the island would no longer receive oil or financial support from Venezuela. Trump also suggested that Cuba should make a deal with Washington, raising tensions between the two long-time rivals.

In a message posted on social media, Trump said there would be “zero” oil and money going to Cuba from Venezuela. He argued that Cuba had depended for years on support from Caracas and warned the island’s leadership to reach an agreement with the United States before it was “too late.” Trump did not explain what kind of deal he was offering.

Cuba’s leadership quickly rejected the statement. President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the United States had no right to pressure Cuba or tell it how to act. He stressed that Cuba is an independent and sovereign nation and accused Washington of attacking the island for more than six decades through sanctions and political pressure. Díaz-Canel said Cuba would defend itself under any circumstances.

Venezuela has been Cuba’s largest oil supplier, sending about 26,500 barrels of crude and fuel per day last year. This covered around half of Cuba’s oil needs. However, shipping data shows that no Venezuelan oil cargoes have left for Cuba since early January, after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and imposed a strict oil blockade on the country.

At the same time, the United States and Venezuela are reportedly moving toward a major oil deal. Under the plan, up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil could be supplied to the U.S., with money held in U.S.-controlled accounts. This marks a major shift in relations between Washington and Caracas and adds pressure on Cuba, which has long relied on Venezuela for energy.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said Cuba has the right to buy fuel from any country willing to sell it. He denied claims that Cuba receives money or other benefits in exchange for security services provided to other nations. Cuba has not given details about its security cooperation with Venezuela, though it confirmed that Cuban personnel were killed during the recent U.S. operation there.

Life on the island has already become very difficult. Cuba depends heavily on imported fuel to run power plants and transport. With oil supplies shrinking, blackouts have become common across the country. Many people live without electricity for hours each day. Shortages of food, fuel, and medicine have increased public frustration and pushed many Cubans to leave the country in recent years.

Mexico has recently stepped in as a small but important alternative oil supplier. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico has not increased shipments, but changing conditions in Venezuela have made Mexico a key source of fuel for Cuba. Even so, the supply is limited and cannot fully replace Venezuelan oil.

U.S. intelligence reports suggest Cuba’s economy is under severe stress, especially in farming and tourism. While the loss of Venezuelan oil could make governing harder, these reports do not fully support Trump’s claim that Cuba is close to collapse.

Among ordinary Cubans, reactions are mixed. Some say they are ready to endure more hardship. Others believe the country needs urgent change. Many point to daily struggles, including long power cuts and empty shelves, as signs that the current situation cannot continue.

From an editorial point of view, Trump’s comments mark another sharp escalation in U.S. policy toward Cuba. While pressure may increase economic strain, history shows that threats alone rarely bring lasting solutions. The situation highlights the need for dialogue and realistic policy choices rather than confrontation.

As Cuba faces growing challenges, the coming months will be critical. How Havana adapts to reduced oil supplies and rising pressure from Washington will shape the island’s future and the balance of power in the region.