Trump Announces New Dialogue with Cuba Amid Plans to Reduce Oil Supply

President Donald Trump announced that the United States has initiated discussions with Cuban leaders. This move aligns with his administration’s strategy of increasing pressure on the island nation, notably by disrupting its key oil imports.

During a conversation with reporters on Saturday evening, as he traveled to Florida, the Republican president mentioned these developments. Trump’s recent decisions to halt oil supplies from Venezuela and Mexico appear to be part of a broader strategy intended to pressure Cuba into negotiations.

Although Trump’s specific objectives concerning Cuba remain somewhat ambiguous, his focus on the island has intensified. This shift follows a January campaign where his administration successfully captured Venezuela’s former leader, Nicolás Maduro, marking a more assertive approach towards U.S. adversaries.

Trump has expressed confidence that the Cuban government is on the brink of collapse.

Details regarding the extent and nature of the U.S.’s recent interactions with Cuba were sparse. On Saturday, Trump simply remarked, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba,” without providing further specifics.

His recent moves to cut off its oil supplies have squeezed the island.

This past week, Trump signed an executive order to impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba. The move put pressure on Mexico, which Cuba became dependent on for oil after Trump halted oil shipments from Venezuela in the wake of Maduro’s ouster.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that it could cause a humanitarian crisis. She said on Friday that she would seek alternatives to continue helping Cuba.

“It doesn’t have to be a humanitarian crisis. I think they probably would come to us and want to make a deal,” Trump said Saturday. “So Cuba would be free again.”

He predicted they would make some sort of deal with Cuba and said, “I think, you know, we’ll be kind.”

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Price reported from Washington.