In a dramatic escalation of tensions reminiscent of the Cold War, former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Cuba, urging the island nation to "make a deal" after American forces severed its critical oil supply from Venezuela.
A Sudden Cut-Off and a Stark Ultimatum
The crisis unfolded after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, a close ally of Havana. The United States, in an effort to control Venezuela's oil production and distribution, began seizing tankers. This action immediately cut off the shipments that had long been a lifeline for Cuba's struggling economy.
From his home in southern Florida over the weekend of January 11, 2026, Trump declared the end of this support. "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!" he stated in a social media post. He added, "I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," though he did not specify the terms of any potential agreement.
The move threatens to deepen Cuba's existing economic crisis, which is already marked by regular blackouts, supermarket queues, and petrol shortages.
Havana's Defiant Response
Within hours, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel issued a fiery response. "Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. No one dictates what we do," he wrote.
He accused the United States of aggressing against Cuba for 66 years and stated, "it does not threaten; it prepares, ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood." Diaz-Canel also condemned the long-standing US embargo, calling it a series of "draconian measures" responsible for the island's severe economic shortages.
The Cuban government revealed that 32 of its military personnel were killed during the American operation that captured Maduro. These personnel were in Caracas as part of a security agreement between Cuba and Venezuela.
Strategic Stakes and Broader Ambitions
The confrontation highlights the high-stakes battle for control of Venezuela's vast oil reserves, estimated at over 300 billion barrels. Trump outlined a vision for US oil companies to invest billions in fixing Venezuela's infrastructure to sell "large amounts of oil."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified the US approach, stating the goal is to see changes in Venezuela "beneficial to the United States, first and foremost." In a provocative aside, Trump endorsed a social media post predicting Rubio would become "president of Cuba," commenting, "Sounds good to me!"
This incident occurred alongside the announcement that Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado had won the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. Trump had expressed a willingness to accept the prize on her behalf, though Nobel organisers confirmed prizes cannot be revoked or transferred.
The exchange marks a significant hardening of the US stance towards Cuba, reversing a period of cautious diplomacy and returning to a rhetoric of maximum pressure, with the island's fragile economy now under renewed threat.
