TRUMP CONFIRMS HIGH-LEVEL TALKS WITH CUBA AMID THREAT OF OIL BLOCKADE

TRUMP CONFIRMS HIGH-LEVEL TALKS WITH CUBA AMID THREAT OF OIL BLOCKADE


The United States has confirmed ongoing high-level discussions with Cuba’s leadership, as President Donald Trump signalled the possibility of a new deal with Havana amid escalating economic pressure on the Caribbean nation.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump disclosed that Washington was engaging directly with Cuba’s top officials, days after his administration threatened to impose a virtual oil blockade on the communist-run country.

“Cuba is a failing nation. It has been for a long time, but now it doesn’t have Venezuela to prop it up,” Trump said. “So we’re talking to the people from Cuba, the highest people in Cuba, to see what happens. I think we’re going to make a deal with Cuba.”

The US president, however, did not provide details on the nature or scope of the proposed negotiations, nor did he outline what concessions or demands might form part of any potential agreement.

Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Havana following the January 3 ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela had long been a key ally of Cuba and a major supplier of subsidised oil to the island nation.

Since Maduro’s removal, the Trump administration has intensified its pressure on Cuba, arguing that the loss of Venezuelan support has further weakened the country’s already fragile economy.

Last Thursday, Trump signed an executive order threatening additional tariffs and penalties against countries that continue to supply oil to Cuba. The move has raised concerns about worsening fuel shortages on the island.

In Havana, the impact of the growing pressure has been visible, with residents forming long queues at petrol stations amid fears of fuel scarcity. Cuba has in recent months struggled with persistent power outages, economic hardship, and declining access to basic services.

Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents were Cuban exiles, have repeatedly expressed support for political change in Havana. Following Maduro’s fall in Venezuela, Trump warned Cuba to “make a deal soon” or face unspecified consequences.

Earlier, the US president had issued a stark message on social media, declaring, “NO MORE OIL OR MONEY FOR CUBA: ZERO!” while claiming the country was “ready to fall.”

In response, the Cuban government has accused Washington of deliberately seeking to strangle its economy, describing the measures as part of a broader strategy to destabilise the island.

Despite the sharp rhetoric on both sides, Trump’s latest comments suggest that diplomatic engagement remains an option, even as economic pressure continues to mount.

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