In a fiery rebuke, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has slammed Donald Trump's latest threats to cut off Venezuela's oil and money supplies to the island nation, calling it a blatant attempt to "suffocate" Cuba's economy. What this really means is that the longstanding tensions between the U.S. and Cuba are reaching a boiling point, with the Trump administration doubling down on its hardline approach.
No "Deals" With "Criminal" U.S., Says Díaz-Canel
Responding to Trump's demand that Cuba "make a deal" with Washington "before it's too late," Díaz-Canel made it clear that his government has no intention of negotiating under threat. "Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. Nobody dictates what we do," he said on Twitter. The Cuban leader went on to accuse the U.S. of behaving like a "criminal and uncontrolled hegemon" that threatens regional and global peace.
Losing Venezuelan Lifeline
At the heart of the dispute is Cuba's longstanding economic reliance on oil and financial support from Venezuela. Estimates suggest Cuba received around 35,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil per day before the recent U.S. operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. With that vital lifeline now cut off, Havana faces the prospect of worsening fuel shortages and an economic crisis.
Implications for the Region
The Trump administration's hardball tactics against Cuba are part of a broader effort to reassert U.S. dominance in Latin America and the Caribbean. As Council on Foreign Relations notes, the U.S. has long viewed Cuba as a threat due to its communist government and alliance with Venezuela. By strangling Cuba's economy, the White House hopes to force political concessions and weaken the country's influence in the region. However, Díaz-Canel's defiant response suggests Cuba has no intention of backing down in the face of U.S. pressure.
The outcome of this escalating standoff could have major implications not just for Cuba, but for the balance of power in the Americas. As BBC reports, Cuba's ability to weather the economic storm may depend on whether it can secure alternative sources of oil and financial support from countries like Mexico, Russia, or China. The Trump administration's gambit to cripple Cuba could backfire if it drives the island nation even closer to U.S. rivals.
Ultimately, this dispute underscores the broader geopolitical tensions at play, where the U.S. is locked in a high-stakes struggle to maintain its influence in its own backyard. The fate of Cuba's economy hangs in the balance, but the reverberations could be felt far beyond the Florida Straits.