WASHINGTON/HAVANA: US President Donald Trump has vowed to cut off all oil and financial support to Cuba following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, intensifying pressure on the Caribbean island.
Read More: Cuba defiant after Trump says no more Venezuelan oil or money
Trump made the announcement on Sunday via his Truth Social account, stating: “There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba—zero!” He urged Havana to “make a deal, before it is too late,” citing Cuba’s previous support for Venezuelan leaders in exchange for oil and financial aid. The post followed a US special forces raid that captured Maduro and his wife, resulting in the deaths of many of his security personnel, including Cubans.
“…THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”- President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/bHEIysJ7q1
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 11, 2026
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded defiantly, asserting that “Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation” and rejecting any US coercion. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez emphasized Havana’s right to import fuel from willing suppliers without interference. Residents in Havana expressed skepticism over Trump’s threats, noting the long-standing US embargo has not toppled the government.
Trump’s remarks come amid claims that the US now controls Venezuela’s oil sector through a naval blockade. While he provided few details on what a potential deal with Cuba might involve, Trump said he intends to protect Cuban expatriates and those “forced out” under duress.
Repito lo que he dicho en numerosas ocasiones: estamos presenciando lo que, estoy convencido, será el principio del fin del régimen en La Habana.
La tiranía en Cuba no sobrevivirá al segundo mandato del presidente Trump, y Cuba será finalmente libre tras décadas de miseria,… https://t.co/NMQa0qgS6X
— Mario Díaz-Balart (@MarioDB) January 11, 2026
The announcement has drawn praise from some Republican lawmakers, including Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, who said Cuba’s “tyranny will not survive” Trump’s second term. Analysts warn, however, that a sudden cutoff of Venezuelan oil could further destabilize Cuba’s economy, which has relied on Caracas for decades under agreements initiated by Hugo Chavez and continued under Maduro.
Read More: Trump urges Cuba to ‘make a deal, before it is too late’
The latest developments underscore rising US-Cuba tensions and come as Trump has hinted at a more assertive foreign policy targeting other nations in the region, including Colombia, Mexico, and Iran.