Trump threatens to cut off Cuba's lifeline after Maduro's downfall
In a remarkable development reflecting a radical shift in US policy towards the Caribbean and Latin America, US President Donald Trump his threatening tone towards Cuba , issuing a strongly worded warning to the regime in Havana that it must "reach an agreement" immediately or face dire consequences, the nature of which was not precisely defined, following the US military operation that ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Warning via "Truth Social"
Trump chose his preferred platform, TruthSocial, to deliver his direct message, emphasizing the severing of the communist island's economic lifeline. "Cuba will receive no more oil or money—nothing," Trump wrote in his post, adding firmly, "I strongly suggest we make a deal before it's too late." The US president did not elaborate on the details of this proposed agreement, leaving room for speculation about whether he is demanding regime change or major geopolitical concessions.
The end of the strategic alliance between Havana and Caracas
These threats come at a critical juncture, as Cuba has lost its most important regional ally just a week after Washington announced Maduro's in a military operation in Caracas. For decades, the relationship between Cuba and Venezuela has been central to countering US influence in the region; Venezuela supplied Cuba with subsidized oil and funds in exchange for intelligence, security, and medical services provided by Havana.
Trump referred to this collapsing alliance, saying, "Cuba lived for years on vast quantities of oil and money from Venezuela, and in return, provided security services to the last two Venezuelan dictators, but not anymore." The US president asserted that the recent attack resulted in the deaths of several Cuban security personnel who were protecting the Venezuelan regime, describing them as "thugs and extortionists.".
Rubio... a psychological pressure card
In a move laden with symbolic and political significance, Trump retweeted a message suggesting that his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio , of Cuban descent and known for his hawkish stance toward the Cuban regime, could play a pivotal role in the island's future, commenting, "Sounds good to me." This hint represents immense psychological pressure on the Cuban leadership, given Rubio's history of advocating for stricter sanctions and an end to communist rule in his homeland.
Historical context and expected impact
Historically, Cuba has suffered from a long-standing US economic embargo, but it has always found a way out through international allies, from the former Soviet Union to Venezuela under Chávez and Maduro. With Maduro's fall and the cessation of oil supplies, Cuba faces the specter of an economic crisis that could be even more severe than the "special period" it experienced in the 1990s.
Observers believe that Trump's statements that Cuba is "on the verge of collapse" are based on an assessment of the island's fragile economy, where the electricity and transportation systems rely almost entirely on Venezuelan fuel. The absence of this support could lead to internal social unrest and severe shortages of basic resources, presenting the Cuban regime with difficult existential choices: either negotiate on American terms or face a complete collapse that could reshape the region's political landscape.
