17 hours ago
Last Updated:January 09, 2026, 09:29 IST
Donald Trump said Cuba “totally relies on Venezuela for money and for oil,” warning that Havana is vulnerable without its ally.
US President Donald Trump. (File Photo)
Donald Trump has said that Cuba “totally relies on Venezuela for money and for oil" and that this relationship has long defined the dynamics between the two countries.
Speaking during an interview, Trump told American television presenter Sean Hannity, “Cuba totally relies on Venezuela for money and for oil, and they give Venezuela protection."
“That was always the deal. They’re very tough, they’re good soldiers."
Trump’s remarks come amid heightened US pressure on Venezuela, following the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and a series of US interceptions of Venezuelan-linked oil tankers.
Trump referenced the recent US military action against Maduro’s forces, noting, “They got wiped out, as you know. Yeah. Three days ago, wiped out. I don’t want to even say how many, but they got wiped out."
The President emphasised the symbiotic nature of the Cuba-Venezuela relationship, adding, “But Cuba gives protection to Venezuela, and Venezuela gives Cuba money through oil."
A few days back, Trump suggested that Havana’s dependence on Venezuela makes it vulnerable in the current geopolitical climate.
“Cuba is ready to fall," Trump told reporters on Air Force One in a separate briefing, according to AFP, warning that it would be difficult for Cuba to “hold out" without receiving heavily subsidised Venezuelan oil.
Trump downplayed the need for any direct US military action in Cuba, stating, “I don’t think we need any action. It looks like it’s going down."
He predicted that the Cuban economy, already under strain, would face further pressure following the US operations in Venezuela.
“It’s going down," he said. “It’s going down for the count."
The President’s comments align with the US officials’ broader strategy of cutting off critical energy supplies to Cuba.
US forces recently seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers, actions that threaten to sever Cuba’s main energy lifeline.
For years, Venezuela supplied Cuba with tens of thousands of barrels of oil daily, a crucial component in keeping the island’s economy afloat.
Cuban residents in the port of Matanzas described shuttered gas stations, long fuel lines, and worries over worsening power outages.
First Published:
January 09, 2026, 09:29 IST
News world 'Cuba Totally Relies On Venezuela For Money, Oil': Trump Amid Outcry Over Maduro Capture
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