The Cuban authorities will turn to the United States and seek a deal because Cuba has no money, no oil, US President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
„Cuba is in a very bad situation. They have no money. They have no oil. "They lived off Venezuelan money and oil, and now none of that is going to happen," the president said (quoted by Reuters. He called on Cuban authorities to negotiate.
Trump's remarks come amid his threats to impose tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba. Previously, the Republican said that Cuba was "in deep trouble" and that the island's regime would soon "fall." He made the statement after the US military operation in Caracas and the capture of Nicolas Maduro. On the day of Operation "Absolute Resolve," Trump threatened Havana and noted that the US was ready to help Cuba, which is in a "deplorable state."
At the end of January, the US president declared a state of emergency with an executive order due to the threat to national security coming from Cuba. The document allows the US to impose additional tariffs on imports from any country that directly or indirectly supplies oil to Cuba.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez responded by declaring an international emergency.
“The people of Cuba, with the solidarity of the international community, conclude that the situation in relations with the United States government constitutes an unusual and exceptional threat,“ he wrote in an email.