Cuba has pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that no more Venezuelan oil or money will flow to the island, calling the long-time nemesis’s warnings unacceptable and reaffirming its sovereignty.
Trump suggested Cuba should strike a deal with Washington, citing the island’s reliance on Venezuelan oil and funding. “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 on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, Trump also posted on truth social a fake Wikipedia search of himself, cited as “Acting President of Venezuela”.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded on social media, emphasizing Cuba’s independence. “Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. Nobody dictates what we do,” he wrote. “Cuba does not attack; it has been attacked by the U.S. for 66 years, and it does not threaten; it prepares, ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood.”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez highlighted the country’s right to import fuel from any willing suppliers and denied receiving compensation for security services in Venezuela. Venezuela supplied around 26,500 barrels per day last year, covering roughly half of Cuba’s oil deficit, but no cargoes have left Venezuelan ports since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces.
Mexico has recently emerged as a key alternative supplier, though volumes remain limited. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed her country’s support had increased slightly, providing crucial crude imports amid Cuba’s energy shortfalls.
Cuba faces growing economic challenges, including rolling blackouts, food and fuel shortages, and a strained healthcare system, contributing to a record-breaking exodus, mainly to the United States, over the past five years. Residents report long hours without electricity, while the government struggles to maintain basic services.
Havana vendor Alberto Jimenez expressed defiance in the face of Trump’s threats: “That doesn’t scare me. Not at all. The Cuban people are prepared for anything.” Another resident, Maria Elena Sabina, emphasized the need for domestic change: “There’s no electricity here, no gas, not even liquefied gas. There’s nothing here. So yes, a change is needed, and quickly.”
