Trump threatens tariffs on countries that continue to send oil to Cuba

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, signed an executive order on Thursday declaring a national emergency and paving the way to impose tariffs on products from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba, reported the agency Reuters citing the White House.

The measure, announced from Washington, aims to cut one of the main sources of economic lifeblood for the Cuban regime, amidst increasing tensions between the two countries. According to the Trump administration, the goal is to prevent the island from continuing to receive oil and financial resources from abroad, especially from allies like Venezuela.

The decision comes in a context marked by the tightening of U.S. policy towards Havana and earlier warnings from Trump himself, who stated that Cuba would not continue to receive "either Venezuelan oil or money" unless it agreed to negotiate with Washington.

The executive order establishes a mechanism to identify the countries involved in supplying oil to the island and to impose trade sanctions through tariffs, a measure that could have direct repercussions on both the Cuban economy and its energy partners.

The decision comes at a time of extreme energy vulnerability for Cuba, characterized by prolonged blackouts, productive paralysis, and an almost absolute dependence on imported oil. Washington seeks to close off this last lifeline for the system, especially following the loss of Venezuelan support.

This new measure aligns with a much broader strategy recently revealed by The Wall Street Journal, which stated that the White House is actively working to trigger a regime change in Cuba before the end of 2026, seizing what U.S. officials describe as a "historic window of opportunity."

According to that report, the island's economic weakening, exacerbated by the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3 and the collapse of Venezuelan oil supplies, has led Trump to escalate economic, diplomatic, and symbolic pressures against Havana.

The U.S. president himself has been explicit in his assessment. "Cuba seems to be on the verge of collapse. I don’t know how they will be able to hold on," he said recently, emphasizing that the regime has lost its main source of income with Venezuela.

The threat of tariffs on third countries that trade oil with Cuba reinforces this logic of a complete blockade. It not only strikes the island but also sends a direct warning to potential energy allies who might try to replace Caracas.