Trump tells Cuba to ‘make a deal’ or face the consequences | Donald Trump
Donald Trump told Cuba to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences, adding that no more Venezuelan oil or money would flow to the communist-run Caribbean island that has been an enemy of the United States for decades.
The US president stepped up his threatening language on Sunday as Cuba, a close ally of Venezuela and a major beneficiary of its oil, braces for possible widespread unrest after Nicolás Maduro is ousted as the South American country’s leader.
“NO MORE OIL OR MONEY WILL GO TO CUBA – ZERO!” Trump shared on the Truth Social platform. “I strongly recommend that they make a deal BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.”
He gave no details about what form such a deal might take.
Venezuela is Cuba’s biggest oil supplier but is under a tight US oil blockade, with shipping data showing no cargo has left Venezuelan ports for the Caribbean nation since Maduro was captured by US forces last week.
Dozens of Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel were killed in the US raid, after which Trump said Cuba was “ready to fall”, highlighting the island’s deep economic crisis and saying it would be difficult for Havana to “hold on” without cheap Venezuelan oil.
Earlier on Sunday, the US president reposted a message suggesting US secretary of state Marco Rubio, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, could be the country’s next president, adding: “Sounds good!”
In a separate message released shortly after, Trump said Cuba had “lived for years on huge amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba had provided ‘Security Services’ to the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!” he said.
“Most of the Cubans KILLED in last week’s US strike, and Venezuela no longer needs protection from the bandits and usurpers who have been holding them hostage for years.”
Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez said he had not been compensated for security services provided to another country and that Cuba had the right to import fuel from any country. He accused the US of “criminal” behavior.
Some Republican US lawmakers on Sunday praised Trump for his aggressive comments. Mario Díaz-Balart, a US congressman from Florida, said the regime in Havana was nearing its end after “decades of misery, tragedy and pain”.
Caracas and Washington are working on a $2 billion deal to supply up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the United States, with the proceeds to be deposited in accounts overseen by the U.S. Treasury; It’s a test of relations between Trump and Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez.
Trump’s remarks came after the United States on Saturday called on its citizens to leave Venezuela immediately, amid reports that armed paramilitary forces are trying to track down US citizens in the country.
One security warning In a statement sent on Saturday, the State Department said there were reports of armed members of pro-regime militias. collectivessetting up roadblocks and searching cars for evidence that the occupants were U.S. citizens or supporters.
“U.S. citizens in Venezuela need to exercise caution and caution when traveling by road,” the warning said, and called on citizens to depart immediately due to the resumption of some international flights from Venezuela.
Speaking to the New York Times last week, Trump said he wanted to visit Venezuela in the future after claiming that the United States “ruled” the South American country by dismissing its leader.
“I think it will be safe at some point,” the US president told reporters. However, the Foreign Ministry’s warning revealed how volatile the situation was following last weekend’s raid by special forces in which many people were killed.
Responding to the security alert, Venezuela’s foreign ministry said the US state department’s warning was “based on fabricated calculations aimed at creating the perception of a non-existent risk.”
“Venezuela is in absolute calm, peace and stability,” the ministry said. “All centers, communication routes, checkpoints and security devices are operating normally.” The government said it was the “sole guarantor of the legitimate monopoly of force and the peace of the Venezuelan people.”
Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report
