Trump says US is ‘starting to talk to Cuba’ as he moves to cut its oil supplies

President Trump revealed the United States has initiated talks with Cuban officials amid intensifying pressure on the communist-run island nation, including recent moves to cut off its vital oil supplies. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida on Saturday night, Trump suggested these economic pressures could force Cuba to negotiate.

“We’re starting to talk to Cuba,” Trump stated, though he offered no details about the timing or level of diplomatic engagement. The president’s comments come at a time of escalating tension between Washington and Havana, with the U.S. administration taking increasingly aggressive steps to isolate the Cuban government economically.

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has moved strategically to block Cuba’s access to oil, first by halting shipments from Venezuela following the January capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and then by targeting alternative suppliers. Most notably, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, a measure that directly impacts Mexico, which had become Cuba’s primary oil supplier after Venezuelan shipments were blocked.

The strategic chokehold on Cuba’s energy supply represents a significant intensification of the decades-long economic embargo against the island. Energy analysts note that Cuba’s economy, already struggling under existing sanctions, depends heavily on imported oil to power everything from electricity generation to transportation and industry.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed concern that these new restrictions could trigger a humanitarian crisis in Cuba. On Friday, she pledged to explore alternatives to continue supporting the island nation, signaling potential diplomatic friction between Mexico and the United States.

Trump dismissed these humanitarian concerns, suggesting the pressure would bring Cuban leaders to the negotiating table. “It doesn’t have to be a humanitarian crisis. I think they probably would come to us and want to make a deal,” he said. “So Cuba would be free again.”

The president’s confidence in Cuba’s imminent capitulation reflects his administration’s broader approach to adversarial nations, characterized by maximum economic pressure designed to force political concessions. Trump has repeatedly predicted the Cuban government is on the verge of collapse, though experts on Cuban affairs point out that the regime has survived six decades of U.S. sanctions.

Trump’s vague assurance that “we’ll be kind” in potential negotiations leaves unclear what specific outcomes his administration seeks. The U.S. has historically demanded democratic reforms, improved human rights, and economic liberalization in Cuba, but the president has not articulated detailed goals for any potential talks.

This development marks a significant shift in U.S.-Cuba relations, which had briefly warmed during the Obama administration before Trump reversed many of those policies. The current approach returns to a more confrontational posture, using economic leverage to pressure the Cuban government.

Regional experts warn that cutting off oil supplies could exacerbate humanitarian conditions for ordinary Cubans while potentially strengthening anti-American sentiment. Cuba has already experienced energy shortages in recent years, leading to blackouts and fuel rationing across the island.

The timing of these moves also raises questions about domestic political calculations, as Florida—with its significant Cuban-American population—remains a crucial battleground state in American elections. Hardline policies toward Cuba have historically appealed to certain segments of Cuban-American voters.

As this situation unfolds, international observers will be watching closely to see whether actual negotiations materialize and what concessions, if any, either side might make in potential talks between Washington and Havana.