Pope Leo Says Tensions Between US, Cuba 'Greatly Troubling' Following Washington's Strikes on Venezuela

Pope Leo XIV has expressed his concerns over the rising tensions between the US and Cuba following recent threats made by President Donald Trump to cut off Cuba's oil supply. In a post on X, Pope Leo said he received 'greatly troubling news' regarding another standoff between the US and Cuba.

The Pontiff called for dialogue between the two countries as he prays for the citizens of Cuba, which has long been subject to sanctions from Washington. His comments also come in the wake of the US striking Venezuela and abducting its leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife. 'I have received the greatly troubling news regarding an increase in tensions between Cuba and the United States of America, two neighbouring countries', said the Pope. 'I echo the message of the Cuban bishops, inviting all responsible parties to promote a sincere and effective dialogue, in order to avoid violence and every action that could increase the suffering of the dear Cuban people'.

Trump Tariffs on Cuba

The previous week, Trump signed an executive order to impose tariffs on goods from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba. The order would put pressure on Mexico, which has supplied oil to Cuba following the strikes on Venezuela. Trump stopped shipments of oil to Cuba from Venezuela after he ordered the strikes.

In the executive order signed on 29 January, Trump said the Cuban government had 'taken extraordinary actions that harm and threaten' the US. Trump cited Cuba's support for countries he and Washington have deemed 'hostile', 'transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors'.

Trump on Saturday said he believes the US and Cuba will be able to come to a deal. 'It doesn't have to be a humanitarian crisis', Trump told reporters on his way to Florida. 'I think they probably would come to us and want to make a deal. So Cuba would be free again'.

'I think, you know, we'll be kind,' Trump continued.

Cuban Government Pushes Back

In response, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel pushed back on Trump's claims in a statement posted on X. Díaz-Canel criticised what he described as an 'escalation by the United States government' against his country. He accused Trump of trying to 'suffocate the Cuban economy' under a 'false and baseless pretext'.

'The Trump administration is consolidating a dangerous way of conducting the country's foreign policy through the use of force and of exercising its ambitions to ensure imperialist hegemony', said the Cuban leader in a translation of his post. 'That country claims the right to dictate to sovereign States which nations they may trade with and to which they may export their national products', said Díaz-Canel.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez also condemned the Trump administration. Rodríguez said Washington, 'by means of blackmail, threats, and direct coercion against third countries, seeks to add further components of pressure', in a translation of his post, also on X.

Rodríguez also stressed that Cuba 'does not harbour, support, finance, or permit terrorist or extremist organisations' in another post on X.