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US President Donald Trump suggested that Cuba should strike an oil deal with Washington as he warned that the Caribbean nation would no longer receive oil or money from Venezuela – Havana’s decades-long supplier and close partner.
Trump, in a post on his ‘Truth Social’ social media platform accused the island nation of providing Venezuela with “security services” in exchange for large amounts of oil and money, which they “lived on”.
But following last week’s stunning US military intervention in Venezuela, which toppled longtime President Nicolas Maduro and secured his capture and removal to New York, the US president says the island has some decisions to make or face repercussions.
“Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided “Security Services” for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!” wrote Donald Trump.
“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he continued.
The accusation sparked a furious response from Havana, who denied wrongdoing and took their own jabs at Washington.
The country’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, in response to Trump’s accusation said that Cuba had never received financial compensation for any “security services”, arguing that Havana has the right to do business with whichever state it pleases.
“Cuba has neither received nor ever received monetary or material compensation for the security services it has provided to any country,” wrote Rodriguez in a post on X. “Unlike the US, we do not have a government that lends itself to mercenarism, blackmail, or military coercion against other States.”
The top Cuban diplomat also asserted that his country will not be coerced into forging trade ties under pressure or threat. It comes after Trump recently announced that he is “open” to expanding his Venezuela operation to Cuba, Colombia or even direct neighbours, Mexico.
“Like any country, Cuba has the absolute right to import fuel from those markets willing to export it and that exercise their own right to develop their trade relations without interference or subordination to the unilateral coercive measures of the US,” he continued.
Rodriguez added that international law is on Cuba’s side and slammed the US over what he called “criminal” and “hegemonic” behaviour.
“Right and justice are on Cuba’s side. The US behaves like a criminal and uncontrolled hegemon that threatens peace and security, not only in Cuba and this hemisphere, but in the entire world.”
Trump has ramped up threats of potential military intervention in Cuba in recent days after continued spats between Washington and Havana following the operation in Venezuela.
On Sunday, the US president posted a screenshot of an X user’s post which read “Marco Rubio will be president of Cuba,” to which Trump captioned “Sounds good to me!”
Additional sources • AP