Cuba President Speaks On Trump Feud
Cuban communist leader Miguel Díaz-Canel said Monday that his regime is not holding talks with the United States, just one day after President Donald Trump issued a blunt warning to Havana following a decisive U.S. strike against Venezuela.
Trump’s message was clear: Cuba should “make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
The warning sent shockwaves through the region and prompted a rapid response from Cuban officials, even as the island braces for a deepening economic and energy crisis.
Cuban Regime Pushes Back on Trump Warning
Díaz-Canel posted a series of short messages on X insisting that any improvement in U.S.–Cuba relations must be based on what he called “international law” and mutual respect — language long used by Havana to deflect pressure.
He claimed Cuba has always been open to dialogue with U.S. administrations, including the current one, but only under conditions that reject sanctions, threats, or interference in Cuba’s internal affairs.
Those statements were quickly echoed by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, signaling that the regime is attempting to project unity amid rising pressure from Washington.
Despite the rhetoric, Díaz-Canel later admitted that no substantive talks are taking place, aside from limited technical discussions related to migration.
Trump Cuts Off Cuba’s Oil Lifeline
On Sunday, President Trump announced that Cuba would no longer be allowed to survive on subsidized oil and financial support from Venezuela.
That declaration followed a dramatic U.S. operation that dismantled key elements of the Maduro regime, resulting in the arrest of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro and the reported deaths of multiple Cuban military officers stationed in the country.
Before the strike, Cuba depended heavily on Venezuelan oil — receiving an estimated 35,000 barrels per day, according to energy analyst Jorge Piñón of the University of Texas at Austin.
Additional shipments from Mexico and Russia have helped keep the lights on, but analysts warn those supplies are uncertain and unsustainable.
Mexico Wavers as Blackouts Spread Across Cuba
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declined to disclose whether her government will increase fuel shipments to Cuba, even as Venezuela’s supply dries up.
She insisted Mexico has “enough oil” to continue helping Havana — despite declining output from state-owned oil giant Petróleos Mexicanos.
Meanwhile, Cubans continue to endure widespread power outages caused by fuel shortages and a collapsing electric grid. Experts warn that losing Venezuelan oil could push the island into a full-scale humanitarian and economic emergency.
Sanctions, Collapse, and Mass Migration
Cuba’s government blames U.S. sanctions — many reinstated or expanded during Trump’s first term — for its economic collapse. Havana claims those sanctions cost the country more than $7.5 billion over the past year.
For comparison, Cuba’s tourism industry once generated about $3 billion annually before collapsing during the pandemic.
The economic breakdown has triggered a mass exodus of Cubans toward the United States, though those pathways were sharply curtailed after Trump moved to secure the border and end preferential immigration policies.
Experts Say Havana Is Stalling
Cuba expert Andy S. Gómez of the University of Miami said Díaz-Canel’s comments appear aimed at buying time for the regime.
“They had every opportunity when diplomatic relations were reopened years ago,” Gómez said. “They didn’t even bring Cuban coffee to the table.”
Michael Galant of the Center for Economic and Policy Research suggested Cuba may want limited talks but said Trump has little reason to rush.
“From Trump’s perspective, allowing the pressure to build costs him very little,” Galant said.
Cubans React as Pressure Mounts
On the streets of Cuba, reactions ranged from fear to quiet hope.
Some citizens said they don’t want conflict — but believe real change may only come if the regime is finally forced to reform.
Others dismissed the idea of a U.S. invasion but said they are bracing for instability under Trump’s no-nonsense approach.
For now, one thing is clear: President Trump is applying maximum pressure, and Cuba is running out of options.
