President Donald Trump said Sunday that the United States will no longer provide oil or financial resources to Cuba, citing new agreements between Washington and Venezuela.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social account, Trump said Cuba had relied for years on oil and money from Venezuela in exchange for providing security services to the South American nation’s leadership.
“Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of oil and money from Venezuela,” Trump wrote. “In return, Cuba provided security services for the last two Venezuelan dictators — but not anymore.”
Trump also claimed that many Cubans involved in those security operations were killed during a recent U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. He did not provide evidence to support the claim.
“Venezuela doesn’t need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years,” Trump said.
The announcement comes amid heightened regional tensions following Maduro’s capture and ongoing energy negotiations involving Venezuela. Earlier this week, the White House issued a warning to Cuba’s government, saying time was running out for political change on the island.
At a meeting with oil industry executives and Cabinet members, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba’s leadership faces a defining choice.
“Those who are in power in Cuba have a decision to make,” Rubio said. “They can choose to have a real country, with a real economy, where their people can thrive, or continue with their failed dictatorship.”
