Donald Trump states Cuba’s reliance on Venezuelan oil and funding has ended, forecasting failure for Havana government
According to details received by The Chenab Times, United States President Donald Trump has declared that Cuba is heavily dependent on Venezuela for oil supplies and financial support, asserting that the Caribbean island nation “is going to fail” following recent American actions in the South American country.
The remarks were made during a television interview on January 8, 2026, where President Trump described the longstanding arrangement in which Cuba received subsidized oil from Venezuela in exchange for medical, security, and advisory services. He stated that this system “worked that way for a long time” but “doesn’t work that way anymore” due to shifts in Venezuela. Trump explicitly said, “I think Cuba’s going to fail,” while noting the Cuban government’s lack of alternative revenue sources.
Cuba, an island nation in the Caribbean Sea with a population of approximately 11 million, has faced chronic economic challenges including prolonged power outages, shortages of food and medicine, and reduced tourism revenue. The country historically imported a significant portion of its oil—estimated at 50,000 to 80,000 barrels per day—from Venezuela under preferential terms established during the era of former Venezuelan leaders Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. Disruptions to these supplies, exacerbated by U.S. measures including seizures of oil tankers, have intensified fuel scarcity on the island.
These comments follow a U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were subsequently transported to New York to face federal charges related to narcotics trafficking. The operation has led to U.S. oversight of Venezuelan oil infrastructure, with announcements that American companies will invest in revitalizing production while imposing conditions that include severing ties with previous allies such as Cuba.
As of January 9, 2026, reports indicate worsening conditions in Cuba, with residents bracing for deeper energy shortages and potential social unrest. Cuban authorities have declared periods of national mourning for personnel lost in Venezuela and sought alternative suppliers, though options remain limited due to financial constraints. No direct U.S. military action against Cuba has been announced, with President Trump previously stating intervention is unnecessary as the government is “ready to fall” on its own.
The development underscores evolving geopolitical dynamics in Latin America and the Caribbean, where Venezuela’s vast oil reserves—among the world’s largest—have long influenced regional alliances. International reactions to the Venezuela operation have included condemnation from several governments over sovereignty concerns, while the impact on Cuba highlights vulnerabilities in energy-dependent economies. Cuban officials have not issued a detailed public response to Trump’s latest statements in available reports.
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