Trump tells Cuba to make a deal with U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump called on Cuba to negotiate with the United States “before it is too late” in a post on Truth Social on Sunday, following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation.

In his post, Trump criticized Cuba for its historical support of the Venezuelan government, writing that the country “lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela,” and provided “Security Services” for the previous Venezuelan leaders. He added that “most of those Cubans are DEAD from last weeks U.S.A. attack,” referring to the strike used to capture Maduro.

Cuban officials reported 32 Cuban military personnel were killed during the operation, while Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello reported a total of 100 fatalities.

Trump also addressed the oil relationship between Venezuela and Cuba, which reportedly involved shipments of 30,000 to 35,000 barrels per day. He stated, “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO!”

Cuba’s Response

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded on X, asserting Cuba’s sovereignty and criticizing the United States’ moral authority to intervene.

“Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation,” Díaz-Canel wrote. “No one dictates to us what to do. Cuba does not aggress; it has been attacked by the U.S. for 66 years, and it does not threaten, but rather prepares itself, ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood.”

U.S. Plans for Venezuelan Oil

Following Maduro’s arrest, Trump announced on Tuesday that interim Venezuelan authorities will transfer between 30 and 50 million barrels of “high quality, sanctioned oil” to the United States. Trump indicated the oil would be sold at market price and that the proceeds would be controlled by him “to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States.”

On Friday, Trump met with the CEOs of major oil companies, including Exxon, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron, to discuss potential investment in Venezuela. Chevron is currently the only U.S. oil company operating in the country. Some executives expressed caution due to historical asset seizures; Exxon CEO Darren Woods noted that re-entry into Venezuela would require “significant changes from what we’ve historically seen,” referencing past expropriations under former President Hugo Chavez.

Regional Implications

Since the operation in Venezuela, U.S. officials have suggested possible actions targeting allied countries, including Cuba. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern for Cuban leadership, describing Cuba as “run by incompetent, senile men, and in some cases not seen now, but incompetent nonetheless.”

Cuban officials warned that U.S. intervention would destabilize the region. A government statement read, “All nations of the region must remain alert, as the threat hangs over all. In Cuba, our determination to struggle is firm and unwavering. The decision is one and only one: Homeland or Death.”

The situation has highlighted tensions between the U.S., Cuba, and Venezuela, with implications for regional security, energy markets, and U.S. foreign policy in Latin America.