Cuba Defies Trump’s Ultimatum as U.S. Presses Oil Cut After Maduro Capture
Updated (3 articles)
Trump Links Venezuelan Oil Cut to Cuba Deal Demand President Donald Trump warned on Truth Social and aboard Air Force One that the United States would halt the flow of Venezuelan oil—estimated at 30‑50 million barrels—to Cuba unless Havana reaches a deal, tying the threat to the U.S. raid that captured Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3 [1][3]. He also claimed the U.S. would now protect Venezuela with its “most powerful military” and suggested ongoing but undefined talks with Cuba [1]. No specific terms for a Cuban concession were disclosed.
Cuban Leadership Rejects U.S. Pressure, Cites Sovereignty President Miguel Díaz‑Canel posted on X on Jan. 12 asserting “no one dictates what we do,” condemning the United States as a longtime aggressor and defending the Revolution against what he called draconian sanctions [1][2]. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla reiterated Cuba’s absolute right to import fuel from any partner without U.S. interference and denied any payment for security services to Venezuela [1][3]. Both officials framed the demand as criminal blackmail rather than a legitimate negotiation.
Cuba Reports 32 Security Personnel Killed in Maduro Raid Havana announced that 32 members of its intelligence and security agencies died during the U.S. operation that seized Maduro and his wife, underscoring Cuba’s direct involvement in the bilateral security arrangement with Venezuela [1][2][3]. Reuters‑cited residents expressed mixed reactions, with some fearing imminent fuel and electricity shortages while others claimed the island is prepared for any supply disruption [1]. The casualty figure has become a focal point of Cuba’s narrative of sacrifice.
U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Tankers as Sanctions Escalate The United States has confiscated a fifth tanker carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil, intensifying pressure on Caracas’s shipments that traditionally funded Cuba’s energy needs [3][1]. Trump cited the potential loss of 30‑50 million barrels of oil to Cuba as leverage in his ultimatum [1]. Cuba estimates U.S. sanctions have cost it more than $7.5 billion between 2024 and 2025, a burden it says compounds the current economic crisis [2].
Sources
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1.
CNN:Cuba rejects Trump demand to make a deal: Reports Díaz‑Canel’s X rebuttal, Trump’s oil‑leverage threat, 32 Cuban casualties, foreign minister’s fuel‑import defense, and ambiguous ongoing talks, highlighting the diplomatic standoff .
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2.
AP:Trump warns Cuba to strike a deal after Maduro's capture: Emphasizes Trump’s warning, Maduro’s capture, 32 Cuban security deaths, claims of past oil‑money exchanges, and quantifies sanctions’ $7.5 billion impact on Cuba’s economy .
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3.
BBC:Trump urges Cuba to strike a deal as US squeezes Venezuelan oil after Maduro raid: Details Trump’s ultimatum, the Jan 3 Caracas raid, Cuba’s fuel‑import rights claim, denial of security‑for‑oil compensation, and the seizure of a fifth sanctioned oil tanker .
Timeline
2024‑2025 – U.S. sanctions cost Cuba more than $7.5 billion, deepening the island’s worst economic crisis in decades with widespread shortages and blackouts, according to Cuban officials [3].
Jan 3, 2026 – U.S. forces launch a raid in Caracas, capture President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and kill 32 Cuban security personnel, highlighting Cuba’s direct involvement in Venezuela’s security arrangement [1][3].
Early Jan 2026 – The United States seizes a fifth oil tanker carrying sanctioned Venezuelan crude destined for Cuba, intensifying pressure on Havana’s fuel supply amid an emerging oil‑shift strategy [1].
Jan 11, 2026 – President Donald Trump posts on Truth Social that “there will be no more oil or money going to Cuba” and urges Havana to strike a deal quickly, linking the ultimatum to the Maduro capture and the broader U.S. campaign against sanctioned Venezuelan oil [1][3].
Jan 11, 2026 – Trump declares that the United States, with “the world’s most powerful military,” will now protect Venezuela, signaling a dramatic policy reversal after the raid [3].
Jan 11, 2026 – Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel replies on X, condemning U.S. sanctions as “draconian” and asserting that those who “turn everything into a business, even human lives” lack moral authority to judge Cuba [3].
Jan 12, 2026 – Cuba’s President Díaz‑Canel rejects Trump’s demand, posting “No one dictates what we do,” and pledges to defend Cuban sovereignty against what he calls a longtime U.S. aggressor [2].
Jan 12, 2026 – Trump cites a plan for Venezuela to shift 30‑50 million barrels of oil to the United States, using the prospect of oil loss as leverage over Cuba [2].
Jan 12, 2026 – Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla reasserts Cuba’s absolute right to import fuel from any willing exporter, dismisses U.S. claims that Cuba traded security services for oil, and labels Washington’s behavior “criminal” [2].
Jan 12, 2026 – Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One that the United States is “talking to Cuba,” though he offers no details on the level or scope of the discussions, hinting at possible future negotiations [2].
Jan 12, 2026 – Havana residents express mixed reactions to the pressure: some fear severe shortages from the loss of Venezuelan oil, while others claim resilience and preparedness for any supply disruptions [2].