Jan 11, 2026, 4:11 p.mJan 11, 2026, 4:11 p.m
After the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, US President Donald Trump 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.
US President Donald Trump threatens Cuba.Image: keystone
Since Venezuela is now protected by the US military, the South American country no longer needs security services from Havana. “THERE WILL NO LONGER OIL OR MONEY FLOW TO CUBA – ZERO!”
Cuba receives oil from Venezuela in exchange for the services of dispatched Cuban doctors. In addition, according to experts, numerous Cuban secret service agents are deployed in Venezuela. Soldiers and intelligence officers 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 3rd in the Venezuelan capital Caracas.
Havana responds
Apparently in response to Trump’s suggestion that Cuba was receiving Venezuelan oil in exchange for the services of security forces, Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez spoke up on the X platform. “Cuba does not receive, nor has it ever done, financial or material remuneration for security services it provides to any other country,” he wrote. “The United States is behaving like a criminal and uncontrolled hegemonic power that threatens peace and security not only in Cuba and this hemisphere, but throughout the world.”
Trump had also reposted several posts on Truth Social in which users were excited about 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 Cuba’s foreign minister. “Sounds good to me!” commented Trump.
Cuba is in 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 stop deliveries of oil from Venezuela, the Cuban economy could collapse completely. However, Cuba also receives oil from Russia and Mexico; delivery volumes from Venezuela had already declined in recent years.
Oil blockade
Trump announced in December that he would impose a “complete and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.” He justified this by saying that the South American country had stolen oil, land and other assets from the USA – these had to be returned. In recent weeks, US forces have taken control of several oil tankers. (hkl/sda/dpa)