US President Donald Trump declared that he would completely stop oil and money flowing from Venezuela to Cuba, and suggested Havana should reach an agreement with Washington.
Writing on the social network Truth Social, Mr. Trump emphasized that Cuba has lived for many years on large oil and financial resources from Venezuela, and warned "there is nothing left - nothing".
Cuba immediately rejected this message. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote on social network X that Cuba is a free, independent and sovereign nation, not accepting coercion. He said that the US has no moral authority to impose agreements, affirming that Cuba does not threaten anyone but is always ready to protect the country.
According to transport data, Venezuela is Cuba's largest oil supplier, but no shipment has left Venezuelan ports to the Caribbean island nation since President Nicolas Maduro was arrested by US forces amid a tight oil embargo.
At the same time, Caracas and Washington are proceeding with a 2 billion USD deal, providing up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the US, with proceeds sent to accounts supervised by the US Treasury Department, reflecting the shaping relationship between Mr. Trump and interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez affirmed the right to import fuel from any supplier willing to export, and denied that Cuba received financial compensation or "material support" in exchange for security services for other countries.
Cuba said 32 members of its armed and intelligence forces were killed in a US raid in Venezuela.
In the current context, Mexico has emerged as an important alternative source with limited volume; President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico has not increased exports, but has become a significant supplier due to political developments in Venezuela.
