ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (TNND) — President Donald Trump said the United States is beginning to hold talks with Cuban leaders as part of his administration’s plan to put pressure on the island country and cut off key oil supplies.
“We’re starting to talk to Cuba,” Trump told reporters, with no further details about the level of outreach his administration has had with the communist-run Island.
Trump made the comment on Saturday night while aboard Air Force One.
In recent weeks, the president has already cut of oil supply from Venezuela and Mexico. He suggested on Saturday that doing the same to Cuba would force the country to the negotiating table.
While Trump’s goals for Cuba are unclear, he has put more of his attention toward the island after his administration’s capturing of former Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year and seems more aggressive about confronting U.S. adversaries.
Trump has stated that he predicts the Cuban government is ready to fall and his recent moves to cut off its oil, puts the island in a bind.
This past week, the president signed an executive order to impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba. This move put pressure on Mexico, which Cuba became dependent on for oil after Trump halted oil shipments from Venezuela following Maduro’s ousting.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has warned that Trump’s move could cause a humanitarian crisis, saying on Friday that she would seek alternatives to continue helping Cuba.
It doesn’t have to be a humanitarian crisis. I think they probably would come to us and want to make a deal,” Trump said Saturday. “So, Cuba would be free again.
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“I think, you know, we’ll be kind.” Trump added saying the U.S. would make some sort of deal with Cuba.