Tankers dock at a terminal in Matanzas, Cuba, January 7, 2026, as Cubans brace for worsening fuel shortages after the United States seized a Venezuela-linked tanker, cutting off a vital energy lifeline.
Norris Perez | Reuters
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that no more Venezuelan oil or money would be sent to Cuba, suggesting the communist-ruled island should strike a deal with Washington to increase pressure on America’s longtime nemesis.
Venezuela is Cuba’s biggest oil supplier, but no cargo has left Venezuelan ports for the Caribbean nation since Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was detained by the U.S. military in early January amid a strict U.S. oil blockade against the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member, shipping data shows.
Meanwhile, Caracas and Washington are moving ahead with a $2 billion deal to supply the United States with up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, the proceeds of which will be deposited into an account overseen by the U.S. Treasury Department, a major test of President Trump’s new relationship with interim President Delcy Rodriguez.
“No oil or money going to Cuba! I strongly suggest a deal before it’s too late,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Sunday.
President Trump added: “Cuba has been living on tons of oil and gold from Venezuela for years.”
Trump did not elaborate on his proposed agreement. U.S. officials have stepped up their rhetoric against Cuba in recent weeks.
Cuba defends import rights
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said in a post on X on Sunday that Cuba has the right to import fuel from any supplier willing to export it. He also denied that Cuba had received any monetary or other “material” compensation in return for security services provided to any country.
Thirty-two members of the Cuban military and intelligence services were killed in the U.S. raid on Venezuela. Cuba said it was responsible for “security and defense” of those killed, but did not provide details of the arrangements between the two longtime allies.
Cuba relies on imported crude oil and fuel, supplied primarily by Venezuela and a small amount from Mexico, which are purchased on the open market to keep generators and vehicles running.
In recent years, supplies of crude oil and fuel from Venezuela to Cuba have declined as refining capacity has declined. But Cuba remains the biggest supplier, exporting about 26,500 barrels a day last year, covering about 50% of Cuba’s oil shortage, according to ship-tracking data and internal documents from state-run PDVSA.
Mexico has emerged as a key alternative oil supplier to the island in recent weeks, but shipping data shows supplies remain low.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said last week that although her country is not increasing supplies, given recent political events in Venezuela, Mexico has become an “important supplier” of crude oil to Cuba.
U.S. intelligence paints a grim picture of Cuba’s economic and political situation, but the assessment does not clearly support President Trump’s prediction that Cuba is “ready to fall,” Reuters reported on Saturday, citing three people familiar with the classified assessment.
In the CIA’s view, key sectors of Cuba’s economy, such as agriculture and tourism, have been severely affected by frequent power outages, trade sanctions and other problems. Venezuela, a key ally for decades, could lose oil imports and other support, potentially making President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s rule even more difficult.
