President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his administration has initiated communication with Cuban leaders to explore a potential diplomatic or economic deal. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Florida, Trump expressed optimism that the Caribbean nation is ready to negotiate.
"We have started talking to Cuba," Trump stated, though he refrained from providing specific details regarding the timeline or the level of the officials involved. "I think they’ll probably come to us and want to make a deal. And so Cuba will be free again."
The President’s comments come amid a period of intense economic pressure exerted by Washington on Havana. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has moved aggressively to choke off Cuba’s energy supplies, specifically targeting oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico.
Last week, the President signed an executive order imposing steep tariffs on any country providing oil to Cuba. This move has placed significant strain on Mexico, which had become a primary energy supplier for the island after U.S. actions led to the cessation of shipments from Venezuela following the recent removal of Nicolás Maduro from power.
While Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has warned that these measures could trigger a humanitarian crisis, Trump dismissed those concerns, suggesting that the economic squeeze is a necessary lever for negotiation.
"It doesn’t necessarily have to be a humanitarian crisis," Trump told reporters. "I think, you know, we’re going to be nice. We’re going to make some kind of a deal."
The administration's ultimate goals for Cuba remain unspecified, but the President has signaled a more assertive stance toward nations he deems hostile to U.S. interests. Analysts suggest the "deal" could involve a mix of sanctions relief in exchange for political concessions or a pivot in the island’s foreign alliances.
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