Politics Trump advises Cuba to make a deal "before it's too late"
Following the arrest of Venezuelan head of state Nicolás Maduro, US President Donald Trump has issued a warning against his ally Cuba. "I strongly recommend that they make a deal BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to the government of the socialist Caribbean state. It was unclear what kind of "deal" he meant.
11.01.2026, 16:30
11.01.2026, 17:39
SDA
As Venezuela is now protected by the US military, the South American country no longer needs security services from Havana. "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL AND NO MORE MONEY FLOWING TO CUBA - ZERO!"
Cuba receives oil from Venezuela in exchange for the services of Cuban doctors sent there. According to experts, numerous Cuban secret service agents are also deployed in Venezuela. Soldiers and secret service agents from Cuba were also responsible for Maduro's personal security. According to the government in Havana, 32 Cuban security forces were killed during the US operation to arrest him on January 3 in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.
Havana reacts
Apparently in response to Trump's suggestion that Cuba receives Venezuelan oil in exchange for the services of security forces, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez spoke out on Platform X. "Cuba does not receive, nor has it ever received, financial or material compensation for the security services it provides to another country," he wrote. "The US is behaving like a criminal and uncontrolled hegemonic power that threatens peace and security not only in Cuba and in this hemisphere, but throughout the world."
Trump had also posted several posts on Truth Social in which users were looking forward to a possible regime change in Cuba brought about by the USA. One of the posts jokingly announced that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio - the son of Cuban immigrants - would become president of Cuba. "Sounds good to me!" commented Trump.
Cuba is in the midst of its worst economic crisis since the victory of Fidel Castro's revolution in 1959. There is a shortage of fuel, among other things. If the USA were to cut off oil supplies from Venezuela, the Cuban economy could collapse completely. However, Cuba also receives oil from Russia and Mexico, and supplies from Venezuela have already declined in recent years.
Oil blockade
In December, Trump announced that he would impose a "total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela". He justified this by stating that the South American country had stolen oil, land and other assets from the USA - these must be returned. In recent weeks, US forces have taken control of several oil tankers.
