Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Sunday that the United States could pursue a negotiated agreement with Cuba, as the Caribbean nation grapples with escalating economic distress and energy shortages. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested that Havana may seek talks to avert further hardship, signaling a potential shift in U.S. strategy after weeks of intensified pressure.
Trump said he believed that Cuba would be motivated to come to the negotiating table given the island nation’s deteriorating financial and energy situation. “We’re starting to talk to Cuba, and I think you’ll see a deal,” he remarked, without providing specifics on the scope or conditions of any potential agreement. The president added that the Cuban crisis “doesn’t have to get worse” if both countries engage constructively.
A key factor in Cuba’s current crisis, Trump noted, is the disruption of Venezuelan oil shipments, which had long served as Havana’s primary energy lifeline. The supply chain was affected following the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year, leaving Cuba scrambling to secure alternative fuel sources.
In response, Mexico has emerged as Cuba’s top fuel supplier, providing crucial shipments to mitigate shortages. However, Trump hinted that ongoing U.S.–Mexico diplomatic discussions could influence these deliveries, as Washington pressures countries to limit support to Havana.
Trump’s remarks follow a series of assertive U.S. measures targeting Cuba’s economy. In late January, he signed an executive order imposing tariffs on countries that export oil to Cuba, part of a broader campaign to isolate the Cuban government economically and push it toward concessions.
Analysts note that Trump’s comments reflect a dual strategy: applying economic pressure while leaving the door open for negotiation. By leveraging Cuba’s vulnerability amid energy shortages and inflation, the U.S. may aim to extract concessions without resorting to direct confrontation.
Cuban authorities, however, have maintained a defiant stance, rejected U.S. coercion and emphasizing that any talks must respect Cuba’s sovereignty and international law. The government continues to frame the U.S. measures as an infringement on national independence, even as shortages and inflation strain the domestic population.
The potential for negotiations introduces uncertainty into a long-standing geopolitical tension in the Western Hemisphere. Both Washington and Havana must navigate a complex landscape of regional alliances, economic constraints, and domestic pressures, leaving observers to speculate whether the new overtures could lead to a breakthrough or simply a temporary easing of tensions.
As the situation unfolds, global markets and regional governments are closely watching developments, weighing the economic and diplomatic implications of a possible U.S.–Cuba deal.