In a stark warning issued from his Florida residence, US President Donald Trump has declared an end to the economic lifeline Venezuela provided to Cuba, following the dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump's Social Media Ultimatum to Havana
President Trump took to social media over the weekend to deliver a blunt message to the Cuban government. He stated that Cuba had long depended on Venezuelan oil and financial support, offering security services in return. "BUT NOT ANYMORE!" Trump declared, adding, "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO!".
He strongly suggested that the Cuban leadership should "make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," though he did not specify the terms of such an agreement. The warning comes as the United States intensifies its efforts to control Venezuela's oil production, refining, and global distribution, including seizing tankers.
Fallout from the Venezuelan Operation
The Cuban government reported a significant loss of life during the American-led operation that resulted in Maduro's capture last weekend. According to Havana, 32 Cuban military personnel were killed. These individuals, from Cuba's two main security agencies, were stationed in Caracas under a bilateral agreement between the two nations.
Dismissing Cuba's role, Trump asserted on Sunday that Venezuela no longer requires protection from "the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years." He proclaimed, "Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them, and protect them we will."
Escalating Tensions and Economic Crisis
The Trump administration has adopted an increasingly aggressive stance towards Cuba, whose economy was heavily propped up by Venezuelan oil shipments. This crisis has been building for years, exacerbated by the longstanding US embargo.
Even before Maduro's removal, Cuba was grappling with severe blackouts, long queues at gas stations and supermarkets, and its worst economic crisis in decades. Trump predicted a further downward spiral for the Cuban economy following Maduro's ouster, stating bluntly, "It's going down. It's going down for the count."
In a lighter, yet pointed, remark, Trump also responded to a social media post predicting that his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, would become the president of Cuba. "Sounds good to me!" the President said, highlighting the administration's desire for political change in Havana.
