U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Cuba, saying the island nation must make a new deal with the United States or can cause serious problems. His message came after recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, where American forces captured former leader Nicolás Maduro in a surprise operation at the start of this month.
In some posts on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that “there will be no more oil or money going to Cuba and urged Cuban leaders to “make a deal, before it is too late.” He said Cuba had long relied on large amounts of oil and financial support from Venezuela, but that relationship was now ending.
Venezuela was Cuba’s biggest source of oil and money for many years. That support helped keep Cuba’s energy, transportation, and basic services running, even as U.S. sanctions limited its ability to trade with other countries. Analysts say the sudden loss of Venezuelan oil supplies could create big problems on Cuba’s economy and energy systems.
Trump also claimed that Cuba provided “security services” to Venezuela’s leaders in return for that support. He said that now Venezuela does not need Cuba’s help anymore and that the United States — “the most powerful military in the world” — will protect Venezuela instead.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a key Trump ally and Cuban-American leader, backed the president’s statement. Rubio suggested that Cuba’s government should be very concerned about the changing situation and that leaders in Havana needed to change their mind.
Cuban officials have strongly criticized Trump’s warning. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the U.S. military action in Venezuela as “state terrorism” and condemned the capture of Maduro as unlawful. At a rally in Havana, Díaz-Canel said the United States is causing problems in the region and violating international law.
The loss of Venezuelan oil support could have serious effects on everyday life in Cuba. Oil shortages in the past have already caused long blackouts, fuel rationing, and difficulty running factories and hospitals. Without reliable sources of oil and money, experts say Cuba’s economy may face even deeper crises in the coming months.
Trump’s warning to Cuba comes as part of a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. After the Venezuelan operation and the capture of Maduro, The United States is acting stricter toward countries it sees as enemies or friends of its enemies. Some analysts say this could increase tensions across the region and reshape diplomatic relationships.
Trump’s message shows talks are possible but says it needs to happen quickly. By insisting that Cuba “make a deal before it is too late,” he has signaled that Washington wants political changes in Havana and reduced ties with governments like Venezuela’s. How Cuba responds and whether it seeks negotiations with the United States will be watched closely by leaders around the world.
