On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump intensified his campaign against Cuba by threatening to impose new tariffs on countries that supply oil to the Communist-run island. This decision, executed through an executive order under a national emergency declaration, did not detail specific tariff rates or identify particular countries whose products might be subjected to these U.S. tariffs.
Following the U.S. military’s recent operation which led to the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Trump has increasingly expressed intentions to target Cuba and apply pressure on its leadership. Earlier this week, Trump stated that “Cuba will be failing pretty soon,” highlighting that Venezuela, previously Cuba’s main oil supplier, has ceased sending oil or financial aid to the island.
Throughout his second term, Trump has frequently employed the threat of tariffs as a strategic tool in foreign policy. In response, Cuba’s president remarked this month that the United States lacks the moral authority to impose a deal on Cuba, following Trump’s suggestion that the island should negotiate an agreement with the U.S.
