President Donald Trump has said the United States is "talking to Cuba" hours after warning in a social media post that the Caribbean nation make a deal with Washington or face consequences. "We're talking to Cuba and you'll find out pretty soon," Trump told reporters on Air Force One Sunday night when asked what kind of a deal he is seeking. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that Cuba would no longer receive oil or money from Venezuela. He accused the island nation of providing Venezuela with "security services" in exchange for large amounts of oil and money. The US president has ramped up threats of potential military intervention in Cuba in recent days following the operation in Venezuela, which toppled longtime President Nicolas Maduro. Trump's accusation on Sunday sparked a furious response from Havana, who denied wrongdoing and took their own jabs at Washington. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Cuba had never received financial compensation for any "security services", arguing that Havana has the right to do business with whichever state it pleases. "Cuba has neither received nor ever received monetary or material compensation for the security services it has provided to any country," wrote Rodriguez in a post on X. "Unlike the US, we do not have a government that lends itself to mercenarism, blackmail, or military coercion against other States." The top Cuban diplomat also asserted that his country will not be coerced into forging trade ties under pressure or threat. It comes after Trump recently announced that he is "open" to expanding his Venezuela operation to Cuba, Colombia or even direct neighbors, Mexico. "Like any country, Cuba has the absolute right to import fuel from those markets willing to export it and that exercise their own right to develop their trade relations without interference or subordination to the unilateral coercive measures of the US," he continued. Rodriguez added that international law is on Cuba's side and slammed the US over what he called "criminal" and "hegemonic" behavior. "Right and justice are on Cuba's side. The US behaves like a criminal and uncontrolled hegemon that threatens peace and security, not only in Cuba and this hemisphere, but in the entire world." "One of the things I want taken care of, and one of the groups I want taken care of are the people that came from Cuba that were forced out or left under duress and they are great citizens of the United States right now," Trump said on Air Force One. "You have a lot of people forced out of Cuba unfairly." Trump did not answer directly when asked if there were plans to seize any oil tankers headed to Cuba. On Friday, the US seized a fifth oil tanker it said was carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela.— Agencies
