U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 11th (local time) that he would completely block oil and financial support flowing from Venezuela to Cuba.
Trump said on the social media platform Truth Social that "Cuba has lived for many years relying on the massive amounts of oil and money coming from Venezuela." He added, "In return, Cuba provided 'security services' to Venezuela's last two dictators, but not anymore. Most of those Cubans were killed by last week's U.S. strike," he claimed.
He also said, "Venezuela no longer needs protection from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for years," adding, "Venezuela now has the United States, with the most powerful military in the world, as its protector."
Trump also said, "There will no longer be any oil or money going to Cuba (from Venezuela). Zero," adding, "I strongly urge them to make a deal before it's too late."
Earlier, after the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump had raised the possibility of regime collapse by saying to Cuba, "The situation is very bad right now" and "I think it will just fall apart."