President Donald Trump said the United States has begun engaging with Cuban leaders, even as his administration intensifies economic pressure on the island by restricting access to vital oil supplies.
Speaking to reporters Saturday night aboard Air Force One while traveling to Florida, Trump offered few details about the outreach but said simply, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.”
Oil Cuts Meant to Push Havana to the Table
Trump suggested that recent US actions are designed to force Cuba into negotiations. In recent weeks, his administration moved to cut off oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, moves Trump said would leave Havana little choice but to engage with Washington.
The administration has ramped up its focus on Cuba following a broader push against governments viewed as US adversaries. Trump has gone so far as to predict that Cuba’s government is on the brink of collapse.
Tariffs Raise Regional Alarm
This past week, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on goods from any country that supplies oil to Cuba. The decision put particular pressure on Mexico, which became a key oil provider to the island after the US halted shipments from Venezuela following the removal of Nicolás Maduro.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that the move could trigger a humanitarian crisis in Cuba and said her government would look for alternative ways to continue assisting the island.
Trump Predicts a Deal Ahead
Trump dismissed concerns about a humanitarian fallout, suggesting Cuba would instead seek a deal with Washington. “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.”
He added that such an agreement could mark a turning point for the country. “So Cuba would be free again,” Trump said, predicting some form of deal and adding, “I think, you know, we’ll be kind.”
