Cuba Defies Washington Pressure Amid Escalating Tensions

Cuba Rebuffs US Ultimatum as Oil Dispute Deepens

Summary

Cuba has firmly rejected demands from the United States, escalating a diplomatic standoff triggered by Washington’s threats to cut off the island’s access to Venezuelan oil. The confrontation intensified after US President Donald Trump warned that Havana must “make a deal” or face the complete loss of Venezuelan fuel and financial support — a lifeline Cuba has relied on for decades.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded with a forceful assertion of national sovereignty, declaring that “no one dictates what we do” and vowing that Cuba would defend its independence “to the last drop of blood. He emphasized that Cuba does not engage in aggression but has endured decades of US hostility, sanctions, and economic pressure.

The dispute follows a dramatic US operation in early January that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the deaths of at least 32 Cuban personnel who were in Venezuela as part of long-standing security cooperation agreements. In the aftermath, Washington announced that Venezuela would redirect tens of millions of barrels of oil to the US, effectively severing Cuba’s access to subsidized fuel.

Cuban officials, including Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, condemned the US position as unlawful interference, asserting Cuba’s “absolute right” to import fuel from its economic partners without external coercion. Rodríguez accused the US of acting as an “uncontrolled hegemon” threatening global stability.

Despite Trump’s claim that the US is “talking to Cuba,” Díaz-Canel clarified that no formal negotiations are underway beyond routine immigration coordination. He reiterated that any future dialogue must be grounded in sovereign equality, mutual respect, and international law — not threats or economic coercion.

The loss of Venezuelan oil poses a significant economic challenge for Cuba. Before the US operation, Venezuela supplied approximately 35,000 barrels per day, supplemented by smaller shipments from Mexico and Russia. Analysts warn that the sudden disruption could deepen Cuba’s ongoing energy shortages.

Regional leaders, including Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, have also pushed back against US pressure, underscoring their own commitment to sovereignty while maintaining limited cooperation with Washington on trade and security issues.

The situation remains fluid, with no indication that either side is prepared to soften its position. For now, Cuba’s leadership is presenting a unified front, framing the confrontation as part of a long struggle against US interference.