Trump signals talks with Cuba as oil pressure tightens
Trump signals talks with Cuba as oil pressure tightens
Trump hints at talks with Cuba while tightening oil leverage by targeting Venezuela and Mexico.
President Donald Trump said he's starting to talk with Cuban leaders as his administration steps up pressure on the island by cutting off key oil supplies. He made the comment to reporters on Saturday night while flying to Florida, framing the outreach as part of a broader effort to pressure Cuba. He did not offer details on recent talks but said, 'We're starting to talk to Cuba' and suggested Cuba could be able to strike a deal and be free again.
The moves include cutting off oil from Venezuela and Mexico. Earlier this week he signed an executive order to impose a tariff on goods from countries that sell oil to Cuba, putting added strain on Mexico, which Cuba has depended on since Venezuela's oil shipments slowed after Maduro's ouster. Mexican leaders warned such measures could trigger a humanitarian crisis and said they would seek alternatives to keep helping Cuba.
Trump also hinted at a potential Cuban government collapse, predicting a deal would emerge and saying, 'I think, you know, we'll be kind.' The remarks come as the country faces energy shortages and a broader geopolitical chessboard, with Caracas and Havana watching closely.
Cuba's leadership has condemned the tariffs, with Diaz-Canel arguing that the U.S. move amounts to a blockade and vows a firm response. The battle over oil and trade lies at the center of a renewed push by Washington to reshape relations with the island, amid ongoing tensions with other adversaries in the region.
