After Venezuela, Trump Warns Cuba: ‘Make A Deal Or No Money And No Oil’ | World News
US-Cuba News: US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Cuba on Sunday that Havana must strike a deal with Washington “before it’s too late” and also claimed the country relies on oil and money from Venezuela in exchange for “security services.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that Venezuela now has the US military to protect it. He added that no more oil or money would go to Cuba.
The post read, “For many years Cuba lived on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return Cuba provided “Security Services” to the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE! Many of these Cubans DIE from last week’s US attack and Venezuela no longer needs protection from the bandits and usurpers who held them hostage for years.”
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The statement said, “Venezuela now has the United States of America, the strongest army in the world (by far!) to protect them, and we will protect them. THERE WILL BE NO OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA ANYMORE – ZERO! I strongly recommend that they make a deal BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.”
This came just days after Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were captured by the US military during an operation on January 3.
Also Read: ‘We Are Good, I Am a Warrior’: Venezuelan President Maduro’s Message to His Son from US Prison
US-Cuba Ties
President Trump had previously stated that Cuba was facing a serious economic crisis after US action in Venezuela cut off the oil and financial support that Havana had relied on for years, and warned that the island was left with few options.
“Cuba is completely reliant on Venezuela for money and oil,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Hannity, according to IANS. “This doesn’t work anymore.”
He said Venezuela and Cuba have long operated under an agreement in which Havana provides security support in exchange for oil and cash.
“That’s always been the deal,” Trump said. “Cuba gives protection to Venezuela, and Venezuela gives money to Cuba through oil.”
Trump said that the relationship is now over after the US operation in Venezuela. “I don’t know what Cuba will do,” he said. “I think Cuba will fail.”
Trump said that Cuban forces operating in Venezuela have been defeated in recent events. “They were destroyed,” he said. “I don’t even want to say how many.”
He said Cuba had no clear alternative source of support. “I don’t think there is an alternative to Cuba,” Trump said.
US-Venezuela Tension
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, has vowed to facilitate the return of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
IANS reported that Rodriguez promised that he would not rest “not even for a minute” until Maduro and Flores returned to Venezuela.
US forces launched military offensives in Caracas and three other Venezuelan cities on January 3; this operation led to the capture of Maduro and Flores. The strikes caused worldwide condemnation and concern.
(With inputs from IANS)
