President Donald Trump has turned his attention south, and this time Cuba is firmly in his crosshairs.
In a blunt message posted Sunday morning on Truth Social, the president warned Havana to strike a deal with Washington “before it is too late,” signaling what could be a dramatic shift in U.S.-Cuba tensions.
The message was unmistakable in tone and timing.
Trump’s comments followed the explosive arrest of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, an event that has already sent shockwaves across the Caribbean.
Venezuela’s Oil Lifeline Is Cut Off
For decades, Cuba has relied heavily on subsidized oil shipments from Venezuela to keep its economy afloat.
That lifeline, Trump says, is now over.
After Maduro was captured by U.S. forces last week, Trump announced that Venezuela’s oil would be rerouted to the United States under the authority of interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez.
The implication was clear: Havana is out in the cold.
“There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba — zero,” Trump declared, urging Cuban leaders to negotiate while they still can.
A Longstanding Alliance Comes Apart
Trump didn’t stop there. He accused Cuba of propping up Venezuela’s former rulers by providing security and intelligence services in exchange for energy and cash.
According to the president, that arrangement ended violently during last week’s U.S. strike in Venezuela, which left roughly 100 people dead.
Among them were 32 members of Cuba’s military and intelligence apparatus who had been guarding Maduro.
Venezuelan officials described the killings as executions carried out “in cold blood.”
Trump, however, framed the operation as the final chapter of a corrupt partnership.
Maduro in Custody, Washington in Control
With Maduro now held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges, Trump says Venezuela no longer needs Cuban protection — or any protection at all.
“Venezuela now has the United States of America,” he said, boasting of U.S. military dominance and promising continued security for the country under its new leadership.
Intelligence Agencies Paint a Bleak Picture for Cuba
Behind the scenes, U.S. intelligence agencies are reportedly bracing for fallout in Havana.
A CIA assessment cited by Reuters warns that losing Venezuelan oil and financial support could severely destabilize Cuba’s already fragile economy.
That grim outlook echoes Trump’s own recent remarks, in which he labeled Cuba a “very badly failing nation.”
“The People Have Suffered Long Enough”
Speaking last week, Trump suggested the Venezuela operation was also meant as a signal to Cuba.
He criticized the island’s political system and said ordinary Cubans have paid the price for decades.
“That system has not been a very good one for Cuba,” he said. “The people there have suffered for many, many years.”
Sanctions Back in Force
Relations between Washington and Havana had briefly softened last year when former President Joe Biden removed Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Trump reversed that decision almost immediately upon returning to office, reinstating the designation and tightening economic sanctions.
Cuba remains under a strict U.S. embargo, severely limiting trade and access to goods.
Rubio Adds Fuel to the Fire
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose family fled Cuba during the communist revolution, offered his own stark assessment.
“Cuba is a disaster,” Rubio said at a recent press conference, calling the country’s leadership incompetent and out of touch.
He added pointedly that if he were part of Cuba’s government, he would be “concerned — at least a little.”
Cuba Isn’t the Only Target
Even as tensions rise with Havana, Trump appears to be looking elsewhere as well.
Following the success of the Maduro operation, he has repeatedly floated the idea of seizing Greenland, a Danish territory.
On Saturday, Trump reportedly ordered special forces commanders to draft plans to take control of the island. Sources say advisers around him — particularly political aide Stephen Miller — believe the moment is ripe to act before Russia or China does.
Allies Alarmed, Military Pushes Back
The idea has rattled allies. British diplomats warn such a move would place Trump on a collision course with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and could effectively shatter NATO.
According to insiders, Trump has asked the Joint Special Operations Command to prepare invasion options, but senior military leaders are pushing back, arguing the move would be illegal and unlikely to gain congressional approval.
One source claimed aides have tried to divert the president toward less explosive actions, such as intercepting Russian “ghost ships” used to dodge sanctions or even authorizing a strike on Iran.
Breaking Developments Ahead
With Cuba under pressure, Venezuela in upheaval, and new flashpoints emerging, the administration shows no signs of slowing down.
More developments are expected as this story continues to unfold.
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