President Donald Trump said the United States has begun communicating with Cuban leaders, even as his administration increases pressure on the island by cutting off key oil supplies and targeting countries that continue to provide fuel to Havana.
Speaking to reporters Saturday night aboard Air Force One en route to Florida, Trump offered few specifics about the outreach, saying only, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.”
Oil Embargo as a Negotiation Tool
Trump suggested that recent US moves—blocking oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico—are designed to push Cuba to the negotiating table. The restrictions already put a squeeze on the island, which has become reliant on Mexican oil after shipments from Venezuela were halted following the capture of Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
Last week, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on goods from any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba, further pressuring Mexico and other nations supporting Havana’s energy needs.
Regional Concerns and Humanitarian Risks
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that the new measures could create a humanitarian crisis and said her government would explore alternative ways to assist Cuba. Trump countered, arguing that such a crisis could be avoided.
“It doesn’t have to be a humanitarian crisis,” he said. “I think they probably would come to us and want to make a deal.”
Trump Predicts Change in Havana
While his administration’s goals with Cuba remain unclear, Trump has signaled confidence that the Cuban government is near collapse. He suggested that negotiations could lead to significant change, saying, “So Cuba would be free again,” and added that he expects a deal could be reached, noting, “I think, you know, we’ll be kind.”
