U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a stark ultimatum to Cuba, urging Havana to “make a deal” with Washington or face unspecified consequences as the flow of Venezuelan oil and financial support to the island is cut off. Trump’s message, delivered via his Truth Social platform, marks a sharp escalation in pressure on Cuba amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape in the Western Hemisphere.
“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump wrote, warning that Havana’s longstanding economic lifeline tied to Caracas is effectively over. He accused Cuba of providing “security services” to Venezuela’s outgoing authoritarian leadership in exchange for oil and cash — an arrangement that, he said, has now collapsed.
The ultimatum comes a week after U.S. forces conducted a military operation in Caracas that captured ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, an action that has dramatically altered U.S.-Latin American relations and sparked protests and international criticism. Cuban authorities reported that dozens of Cuban security personnel were killed during the assault, heightening tensions between Washington and Havana.
Trump also reposted a social media message suggesting that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — the son of Cuban immigrants — could become president of Cuba in a future political arrangement, writing: “Sounds good to me!”
While Trump did not outline specific terms for a potential “deal” or the consequences Cuba might face, his comments signal an intensification of U.S. leverage in the region. The administration has already taken steps to control Venezuelan oil revenue, including signing an executive order to protect such funds from legal claims and redirect them for diplomatic objectives.
U.S. officials portray the moves as a broader strategy to stabilize Venezuela economically and politically following Maduro’s ouster, while critics warn that cutting off Cuba’s energy ties could deepen humanitarian and economic strain in Havana. Cuba, which depends heavily on foreign oil and remittances, faces mounting pressures as its traditional partnership with Venezuela unravels.
The escalating confrontation underscores growing U.S. assertiveness in Latin America, with consequences that may reshape regional diplomacy and influence for years to come.
