Tankers dock on the Matanzas terminal as Cubans brace for worsening gasoline shortages after the U.S. seized Venezuela-linked tankers, reducing a significant vitality lifeline in Matanzas, Cuba, Jan. 7, 2026.
Norlys Perez | Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday mentioned no extra Venezuelan oil or cash will go to Cuba and advised the Communist-run island ought to strike a take care of Washington, ramping up stress on the longtime U.S. nemesis.
Venezuela is Cuba’s largest oil provider, however no cargoes have departed from Venezuelan ports to the Caribbean nation for the reason that seize of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in early January amid a strict U.S. oil blockade on the OPEC nation, transport knowledge exhibits.
In the meantime, Caracas and Washington are progressing on a $2 billion deal to produce as much as 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to the U.S., with proceeds to be deposited in U.S. Treasury-supervised accounts, a serious take a look at of the rising relationship between Trump and interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly recommend they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” Trump wrote on his Reality Social platform on Sunday.
“Cuba lived, for a few years, on massive quantities of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela,” Trump added.
Trump didn’t elaborate on his advised deal. U.S. officers have hardened their rhetoric in opposition to Cuba in latest weeks.
Cuba defends import rights
Cuban Overseas Minister Bruno Rodriguez mentioned in a publish on X on Sunday that Cuba had the precise to import gasoline from any suppliers prepared to export it. He additionally denied that Cuba had obtained monetary or different “materials” compensation in return for safety providers supplied to any nation.
Thirty-two members of Cuba’s armed forces and intelligence providers have been killed in the course of the U.S. raid on Venezuela. Cuba mentioned these killed have been answerable for “safety and protection” however didn’t present particulars on the association between the 2 long-time allies.
Cuba depends on imported crude and gasoline, primarily supplied by Venezuela, and Mexico in smaller volumes, bought on the open market to maintain its energy mills and automobiles working.
As its operational refining capability dwindled in recent times, Venezuela’s provide of crude and gasoline to Cuba has fallen. However the South American nation remains to be the most important supplier with some 26,500 barrels per day exported final 12 months, in response to ship monitoring knowledge and inside paperwork of state-run PDVSA, which lined roughly 50% of Cuba’s oil deficit.
Mexico has emerged in latest weeks as a essential various oil provider to the island, however the provide stays small, in response to the transport knowledge.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum final week mentioned her nation had not elevated provide volumes, however given latest political occasions in Venezuela, Mexico had changed into an “necessary provider” of crude to Cuba.
U.S. intelligence has painted a grim image of Cuba’s financial and political scenario, however its assessments supply no clear help for Trump’s prediction that the island is “able to fall,” Reuters reported on Saturday, citing three individuals accustomed to the confidential assessments.
The CIA’s view is that key sectors of the Cuban economic system, reminiscent of agriculture and tourism, are severely strained by frequent blackouts, commerce sanctions and different issues. The potential lack of oil imports and different help from Venezuela, for many years a key ally, may make governing tougher for President Miguel Diaz Canel.
