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.

- 

A CARIBBEAN Alliance tanker arrives in Havana.

(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!