Escalating tensions between Washington and Havana reached new heights this week as Cuban leaders vowed to protect national sovereignty while demanding the immediate release of detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The confrontation comes amid heightened regional instability following a controversial US military operation targeting Venezuela's leadership.
Trump's Oil Embargo Ultimatum
On January 11, former US President Donald Trump reignited Cold War-era rhetoric through social media, threatening to completely sever Cuba's oil supplies. "There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba – zero!" Trump declared, urging Cuban authorities to "make a deal before it's too late." His statements referenced unverified claims about Cuba providing security services to Venezuelan leaders in exchange for subsidized fuel.
Havana's Defiant Response
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel countered Trump's allegations on X, stating: "Those who blame the Revolution for our economic hardships should recognize these are results of six decades of US asphyxiation measures." The leader emphasized Cuba's readiness to defend its socialist system "to the last drop of blood," while denouncing US interference in sovereign affairs.
Regional Implications
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez simultaneously demanded Maduro's release, calling his week-long detention "a brutal kidnapping" that violates international law. The diplomatic clash occurs against the backdrop of shifting energy alliances in the Caribbean Basin, with analysts warning of potential ripple effects across Latin American markets.
