Trump Says Cuba “Will Be Next” to Collapse, Signals Openness to Oil Shipments

Washington, March 2026 — US President Donald Trump on Sunday described Cuba as a failing state and warned that it could be the next country to face collapse, even as he indicated that Washington may allow oil shipments to the island to ease the hardships faced by its people.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “Cuba’s gonna be next… Cuba’s a mess. It’s a failing country and they’re gonna be next.” His remarks come amid growing concerns over the island nation’s deepening economic crisis.

Despite his strong criticism of the Cuban government, Trump signalled a willingness to adopt a limited humanitarian approach. He said the United States would not oppose oil shipments, even if they originate from countries such as Russia, as long as they help ordinary citizens. “I told them if a country wants to send some oil to Cuba right now, I have no problem with that,” he said.

Trump emphasized that such a move would not significantly impact global geopolitics. “Whether it’s Russia or not… it doesn’t bother me much. It’s not gonna have an impact,” he added. According to him, allowing fuel supplies into Cuba would primarily benefit the population rather than strengthen the government.

“I’d prefer letting it in… because the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things that you need,” Trump said, underlining the humanitarian reasoning behind the stance.

At the same time, the US president maintained that additional oil shipments would not change Cuba’s long-term outlook. “Whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not gonna matter. Cuba’s finished,” he said, reiterating his view that the country’s problems stem from internal governance issues.

Trump blamed Cuba’s leadership for its current condition, calling it “very bad and corrupt.” He also assured support for Cuban Americans and others affected by the crisis, stating, “We will be there to help our great Cuban Americans out.”

The comments suggest a dual-track approach by Washington—continuing pressure on Havana’s leadership while allowing limited flexibility to ease the suffering of civilians.

Cuba has been grappling with prolonged economic challenges, including fuel shortages, frequent power outages, and declining foreign exchange earnings. These issues have been further aggravated by US sanctions as well as structural weaknesses within the Cuban economy, pushing the country into one of its most difficult periods in recent years.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)