US President Donald Trump has once again hinted at potential action in Cuba amid sustained economic pressure on the Caribbean island by the United States government.
Trump remarked that “Cuba’s next” while speaking about the US presence in Venezuela during his address at the Future Investment Initiative summit in Miami on March 27.
“We have been very, very successful. You know, when I went into Venezuela… I built this great military, I said, you’ll never have to use it, but sometimes you have to use it,” Trump said, before adding, “And Cuba’s next, by the way, but pretend I didn’t say that, please.”
Since early 2026, the United States has cut off Venezuela’s oil exports to Cuba and threatened to impose tariffs on any country that supplies crude oil to the island. Because Cuba relies heavily on imported fuel, the measures have contributed to fuel shortages, power outages and wider economic difficulties across the country.
Although a Russian tanker on Sunday, estimated to be carrying around 730,000 barrels of crude oil, was allowed to reach the shores of Cuba, the White House said on Monday that this did not represent a change in US policy toward the island. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the sanctioned vessel was allowed to deliver fuel for humanitarian reasons and that such decisions would be handled on a case-by-case basis.
At the same time, CARICOM governments also began mobilising last week to dispatch humanitarian aid to Cuba. The humanitarian effort is being coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat, headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana. Items such as powdered milk, non-perishable items such as beans, wheat flour, rice and canned goods, as well as basic medical supplies, solar panels, batteries and water tanks are expected to be purchased on behalf of member states and shipped to the island. The initiative is supported by the Government of Mexico, which has identified suppliers in Mexico capable of delivering the items to the port of departure and will provide free shipment from Mexico to Cuba.
