Trump tells Cuba to 'make a deal'

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump urged Cuba at the weekend to "make a deal" soon, pledging to cut off all oil and money flowing to the communist-run island after the toppling of Havana's key ally, Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

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A CARIBBEAN Alliance tanker arrives in Havana. | AFP

(AFP)

The threatening social media post drew an angry retort from Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who said "no one" would tell his country what to do.

Washington has imposed economy-crippling sanctions on its island neighbour for decades, but Trump has ramped up the pressure in recent days.

US special forces seized Maduro and his wife this month in a lightning raid that left dozens of the ousted Venezuelan president's security personnel dead - many of whom were Cuban.

Though Maduro's allies have become interim leaders, Trump has claimed the US now actually controls Venezuela, through a US naval blockade of its vital oil sector.

"THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA ZERO!" Trump said on his Truth Social platform. "I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE."

He said: "Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided 'Security Services' for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!