President Donald Trump says the United States has begun preliminary talks with Cuba, even as his administration ramps up economic pressure on the communist-run island by cutting off key oil supplies.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday night while flying to Florida, Trump offered few details but said simply, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.”
Oil Cuts Used as Leverage
The outreach comes after a series of aggressive moves aimed at squeezing Cuba’s energy lifeline. In recent weeks, the US halted oil shipments from Venezuela following the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro and moved to restrict supplies coming from Mexico, which had become a key source of fuel for the island.
This week, Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on goods from any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. The move put particular pressure on Mexico, prompting President Claudia Sheinbaum to warn that the policy could trigger a humanitarian crisis and to say her government would look for alternative ways to support Cuba.
Trump Predicts Havana Will “Make a Deal”
Trump dismissed concerns about a humanitarian fallout, arguing that the pressure would instead push Cuban leaders to negotiate.
“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 went further, predicting that the Cuban government is close to collapse and suggesting that an agreement with Washington could lead to major change on the island. “So Cuba would be free again,” Trump said.
Unclear Goals, Sharper Focus on Cuba
While Trump did not outline what the US is seeking from Havana or how long discussions have been underway, he acknowledged that his administration has turned more attention to Cuba as part of a broader effort to confront US adversaries.
Trump said he expects some form of agreement to emerge and struck a conciliatory note about potential negotiations. “I think, you know, we’ll be kind,” he said.
For now, the combination of economic pressure and tentative diplomatic signals has left the future of US-Cuba relations uncertain, but clearly back on Washington’s radar.
