U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to halt oil and financial aid to Cuba from Venezuela, urging the island to strike a deal with Washington. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel rejected the threats, reaffirming national sovereignty and readiness to defend the homeland. Several international figures and groups expressed solidarity with Cuba.
On January 11, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: 'THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA–ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.' This threat comes amid regional tensions, including the situation in Venezuela following the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded: 'Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. Nobody dictates what we do. Cuba does not attack; it has been attacked by the U.S. for 66 years, and it does not threaten; it prepares, ready to defend the homeland to the last drop of blood.'
On the 157th anniversary of the burning of Bayamo on January 12, Roberto Morales, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, reaffirmed the commitment to defend national sovereignty. Cuba's chapter of the Network of Intellectuals and Artists in Defense of Humanity (REDH) called for protecting sovereignty in the face of Trump's threat.
From Colombia, the Solidarity Movement with Cuba condemned the threats and reaffirmed support for the Cuban Revolution. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that Mexico could serve as a vehicle for communication between the U.S. and Cuba, if accepted by both parties.
These responses underscore Cuba's resistance to external pressures and regional support for its independence.
