U.S. President Donald Trump urged Cuba to "make a deal" or face consequences, warning that the flow of Venezuelan oil and money would now stop. Trump's statement, posted on Truth Social on Sunday, follows the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a January 3 raid on Caracas.

Venezuela, a long-standing ally of Cuba, is believed to send around 35,000 barrels of oil a day to the island nation. Trump stated, "Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided 'Security Services' for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE! THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE I..." The remainder of his statement was not immediately available.

Cuba's Foreign Minister responded to Trump's warning by asserting the nation's right to import fuel "without interference." The Cuban President echoed this sentiment, stating, "No one dictates what we do."

The Trump administration's tactic of confiscating sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers has already begun to exacerbate a fuel and electricity crisis in Cuba. On Friday, the U.S. seized a fifth oil tanker it said was carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela.

The relationship between Cuba and Venezuela dates back to the presidency of Hugo Chávez, who forged a strong alliance with Fidel Castro. Venezuela's oil shipments to Cuba have been a crucial lifeline for the Cuban economy, particularly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, which led to a severe economic downturn known as the "Special Period." In exchange, Cuba has provided Venezuela with medical professionals, educators, and security advisors.

The U.S. has maintained a trade embargo against Cuba for decades, citing human rights concerns and the Cuban government's communist ideology. The Trump administration has taken a particularly hard line against Cuba, reversing some of the Obama-era policies that sought to normalize relations between the two countries. The current situation raises concerns about the potential for increased instability in Cuba and the broader Caribbean region, as well as the humanitarian implications of a severe fuel shortage. The international community will be watching closely to see how Cuba responds to Trump's ultimatum and whether a diplomatic solution can be found to avert further escalation.