Washington D.C. – United States President Donald Trump threatens Cuba with an unprecedented ultimatum, demanding the island nation negotiate a deal with Washington “before it’s too late.” The stark warning came Sunday as Trump declared that no oil or money would flow to Cuba unless they comply with American demands. This aggressive stance marks a dramatic escalation in US-Cuba relations and follows recent military action in Venezuela that has fundamentally altered regional dynamics.
Complete Economic Cutoff Threatened
In a characteristically forceful Truth Social post written entirely in capital letters, Trump threatens Cuba with total economic isolation. “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” the President wrote, leaving no ambiguity about his intentions. This represents one of the most severe threats directed at Cuba by an American president in recent decades.
Historical Context of Cuba-Venezuela Alliance
Trump threatens Cuba while referencing the island’s long-standing relationship with Venezuela, claiming Cuba “lived” on “large amounts of oil and money” from Venezuela “for many years.” The President alleged that in exchange for Venezuelan oil and financial support, Cuba provided “security services” for what he termed the last two Venezuelan “dictators.” This security arrangement, according to Trump, involved Cuban personnel protecting Venezuelan leadership from internal and external threats.
Aftermath of US Military Action
The context in which Trump threatens Cuba relates directly to recent US military intervention in Venezuela. The President claimed that “most of those Cubans are DEAD from last week’s U.S.A. attack,” referring to alleged Cuban security personnel killed during American operations. Trump declared “BUT NOT ANYMORE!” indicating the end of Cuba’s protective role in Venezuela and the termination of oil and financial flows that sustained this relationship.
Venezuela Under US Protection
Following the military action, Trump threatens Cuba while simultaneously promising American protection for Venezuela. “Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them, and protect them we will,” he wrote. This statement suggests a fundamental realignment of regional power structures, with the US replacing Cuba as Venezuela’s primary external security guarantor.
Marco Rubio Cuba Speculation
Adding another provocative dimension to how Trump threatens Cuba, the President shared a screenshot suggesting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could become “President of Cuba.” When confronted with a post reading “Marco Rubio will be President of Cuba” followed by a laughing emoji, Trump responded “Sounds good to me!” This endorsement, whether serious or facetious, represents an extraordinary statement about potential regime change in Havana.
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Cuban President’s Defiant Response
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez responded defiantly after Trump threatens Cuba, though carefully avoiding direct mention of the American President. “They have no moral authority to point fingers at Cuba on anything, absolutely anything, those who turn everything into a business, even human lives,” Díaz-Canel wrote on social media platform X.
The Cuban leader blamed severe economic shortages on “draconian measures of extreme strangulation that the U.S. has been applying to us for six decades” and suggested conditions would now worsen. He emphasized Cuban sovereignty, declaring: “#Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. No one dictates what we do.”
Revolutionary Rhetoric and Resistance
Díaz-Canel’s response to how Trump threatens Cuba included traditional revolutionary rhetoric. “Cuba does not aggress; it is aggressed upon by the United States for 66 years, and it does not threaten; it prepares, ready to defend the Homeland to the last drop of blood,” he proclaimed. This language invokes Cuba’s long history of resistance to American pressure and suggests Havana will not easily capitulate to Trump’s demands.
Venezuela Releases Political Prisoners
The regional transformation following which Trump threatens Cuba includes the release of political prisoners in Venezuela. Opposition leader María Corina Machado’s party members were among those freed Saturday, representing a significant political development. Trump claimed credit for this outcome, stating Venezuela “has started the process, in a BIG WAY, of releasing their political prisoners.”
Trump’s Warning to Released Prisoners
Even as Trump threatens Cuba, he also issued warnings to newly freed Venezuelan prisoners. “I hope those prisoners will remember how lucky they got that the USA came along and did what had to be done. I HOPE THEY NEVER FORGET! If they do, it will not be good for them,” Trump declared, suggesting consequences for anyone who fails to appreciate American intervention.
Regional Power Dynamics Shift
The way Trump threatens Cuba reflects broader changes in Latin American geopolitics. The severing of Cuba-Venezuela ties, combined with American military presence in Venezuela and threats of complete economic isolation for Cuba, represents a dramatic reconfiguration of regional alliances. The decades-old partnership between Havana and Caracas, built on oil exports and security cooperation, appears to have ended abruptly.
Implications for US-Cuba Relations
As Trump threatens Cuba with unprecedented severity, questions arise about the future of bilateral relations. The complete cutoff of oil and money flows would intensify already severe economic hardships facing the Cuban population. Whether Havana will negotiate under such pressure or maintain its defiant stance remains uncertain. The President’s ultimatum creates a critical diplomatic crossroads, with Trump demanding Cuban capitulation while Díaz-Canel vows to defend sovereignty “to the last drop of blood.” This high-stakes confrontation will significantly influence Caribbean and Latin American politics for years to come.
