STORY: Cubans voiced mixed reactions on Sunday (January 11) following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that no more Venezuelan oil or money would be sent to Cuba, as Washington ramps up pressure on the island's Communist government.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested the Communist-run island should strike a deal with Washington, provoking defiant words from the island's leadership. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel rejected Trump's threat suggesting the U.S. had no moral authority to force a deal on Cuba.

Venezuela is Cuba's biggest oil supplier, but no cargoes have departed from Venezuelan ports to the Caribbean country since the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces in early January amid a strict U.S. oil blockade on the OPEC country, shipping data shows.

Cuba relies on imported crude and fuel mainly provided by Venezuela, and Mexico in smaller volumes, purchased on the open market to keep its power generators and vehicles running. As its operational refining capacity dwindled in recent years, Venezuela's supply of crude and fuel to Cuba has fallen.

Havana produce vendor Alberto Jimenez, 45, said Cuba would not back down in the face of Trump's threat.

“That doesn't scare me. Not at all. The Cuban people are prepared for anything," Jimenez said.

It's hard for many Cubans to imagine a situation much worse. The island's government has been struggling to keep the lights on. A majority live without electricity for much of the day, and even the capital Havana has seen its economy crippled by hours-long rolling blackouts.

Shortages of food, fuel and medicine have put Cubans on edge and have prompted a record-breaking exodus, primarily to the United States, in the past five years.

The CIA's view is that key sectors of the Cuban economy, such as agriculture and tourism, are severely strained by frequent blackouts, trade sanctions and other problems. The potential loss of oil imports and other support from Venezuela could make governing more difficult for Diaz-Canel.

Havana resident and parking attendant Maria Elena Sabina, a 58-year-old born shortly after Castro took power, said it was time for Cuba's leaders to make changes amid so much suffering.

“There's no electricity here, no gas, not even liquefied gas. There's nothing here," Sabina said. "So yes, a change is needed, a change is needed, and quickly.”

Trump's push on Cuba represents the latest escalation in his move to bring regional powers in line with the United States and underscores the seriousness of the administration's ambition to dominate the Western Hemisphere. Trump's top officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have made no secret of their expectation that the recent U.S. intervention in Venezuela could push Cuba over the edge.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: CUBAN FLAG WAVING IN REVOLUTION SQUARE / CUBANS QUEUING TO BUY BREAD / SOUNDBITES FROM CUBANS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: HAVANA, CUBA (JANUARY 11, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. REVOLUTION SQUARE

2. CUBAN FLAG WAVING IN REVOLUTION SQUARE

3. VARIOUS OF CUBANS QUEUING TO BUY BREAD

4. CUBANS BUYING BREAD IN A STATE-RUN BAKERY

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN RESIDENT, MARIA ELENA SABINA, SAYING:

"It seems to me that Diaz-Canel, Raul (Castro), and the whole committee have to make a decision because it is the people who are suffering. Now look, find out where that oil was going. Where was the oil if Cuba doesn't have it? There's no electricity here, there's no power here, there's no gas here, no liquefied gas. There's nothing here. So, it seems to me that, where is the oil that Venezuela or Mexico was sending? Where is it? So yes, change is needed, change is needed, but quickly, hopefully tomorrow."

6. PERSON WALKING PAST A MARKET STALL WITH CUBAN FLAGS

7. VENDOR ADJUSTING A SCALE AT A FOOD STALL

8. VENDOR PACKING FOOD FOR A CUSTOMER AT A MARKET STALL

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN RESIDENT, PAOLA PEREZ, SAYING:

“He (referring to Trump) knows perfectly well that he has to find a solution, because he can't just take over Cuba like that. And if he went down that route with Venezuela, it's because there were shady things going on, but we're not to blame for any of that. Cuba is Cuba, and Venezuela... they're totally different, and yes, we will be quite affected, quite a lot."

10. VARIOUS OF CUBAN RESIDENT, LUIS ALBERTO JIMENEZ, ARRANGING BANANAS ON HIS CART IN DOWNTOWN

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CUBAN RESIDENT, LUIS ALBERTO JIMENEZ, SAYING:

"That doesn't scare me. Not at all. At no point, at no point does that scare me because I'm prepared. The Cuban people are prepared for anything, any situation that may arise, for everything. We are prepared for that."

12. DOME OF THE NATIONAL CAPITOL

13. PEOPLE PASSING BY PORTAL WITH VIEW OF THE NATIONAL CAPITOL IN THE BACKGROUND

14. CITY COASTLINE