President Donald J. Trump doubled down on his firm foreign-policy agenda Sunday, delivering a stark ultimatum to the Communist regime in Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIn a Truth Social post, Trump declared: \u201cTHERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA \u2014 ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The warning comes on the heels of a decisive U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicol\u00e1s Maduro \u2014 a key ally of Havana \u2014 by U.S. forces, a watershed moment in halting the flow of oil and cash that long sustained Cuba\u2019s moribund economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump noted bluntly that Cuba has long depended on \u201clarge amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela\u201d \u2014 support that has now effectively ended following the removal of Maduro from power. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trump administration has aggressively moved to isolate regimes that bankroll corruption, undermine democracy, and threaten American security. Venezuela\u2019s massive oil reserves once underpinned its regional influence, including subsidized shipments to Havana \u2014 a relationship the president has now dismantled as part of a broader push to reshape Western Hemisphere energy flows and break the grip of hostile governments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent days Trump also publicly characterized Cuba\u2019s authoritarian leadership as \u201csick\u201d and close to collapse without Venezuelan support \u2014 a reflection of the island\u2019s deep economic crisis and prolonged energy shortages in the absence of Maduro\u2019s patronage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Trump provides Cuban leaders a clear path \u2014 negotiate and engage on terms favorable to the U.S. \u2014 Havana has so far refused to back down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n