American Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Cuba this weekend, urging Havana to reach an agreement with Washington following the interruption of oil supplies from Venezuela.
In a series of messages published on his social network *Truth* Social, Trump emphasized that **"there will be no more oil or money for Cuba. Zero!"**, and stressed that the Caribbean island, for many years dependent on energy and financial shipments from its Venezuelan ally, **must now seek an understanding with Washington** "before it's too late."
Trump issues his warning amid an international crisis, after U.S. forces detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This situation has worsened the fuel shortage and the energy crisis affecting the island
Oil Bust
Trump argued that, in the past, Havana provided "security services" to the governments of Hugo Chávez and Maduro in exchange for oil and money received from Caracas, but that this relationship has now come to an end. He did not specify the terms of a possible agreement or the concrete consequences if Cuba does not agree to negotiate.
The response from Havana was swift and forceful. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected the US president's statements, insisting that Cuba has never received compensation for security services and defending the country's sovereign right to trade freely with whomever it deems appropriate.
The pressure from the United States adds to the severe economic crisis Cuba is going through, marked by years of embargo, internal problems, and the recent interruption of its main oil supply. The combination of these factors has caused widespread blackouts, fuel shortages, and growing discontent and uncertainty in society, amplifying the country's delicate situation.
Trump's rhetoric towards Cuba also reflects a broader objective of his administration: **to leverage the political change following Nicolás Maduro's detention to reconfigure energy and political relations in Latin America and profit from it**. By cutting off the supply of Venezuelan oil to Cuba, the US government seeks to weaken Havana's traditional alliances and **pressure the island to negotiate with Washington** at a time of severe economic crisis
The ultimatum issued by Trump adds a new chapter to the tense relations between Washington and Havana, which date back decades and sows new doubts about the next moves of US foreign policy