President Donald Trump has announced that the United States is initiating conversations with Cuban leaders. This development comes as his administration intensifies pressure on the communist nation by disrupting critical oil supplies.

Trump shared this information with reporters on Saturday evening while en route to Florida. The announcement follows recent actions to halt oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico, a strategy Trump believes will compel Cuba to engage in dialogue.

While Trump’s specific objectives regarding Cuba remain vague, his focus on the island has increased. This shift in attention follows the capture of Venezuela’s former President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. in early January, marking a more assertive stance against countries considered adversaries.

The President has expressed confidence in the potential collapse of the Cuban government.

During his comments on Saturday, Trump refrained from elaborating on the details or timing of his administration’s communications with Cuba, merely stating, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.”

His strategy of restricting oil supplies has exerted additional pressure on Cuba.

This past week, Trump signed an executive order to impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba. The move put pressure on Mexico, which Cuba became dependent on for oil after Trump halted oil shipments from Venezuela in the wake of Maduro’s ouster.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that it could cause a humanitarian crisis. She said on Friday that she would seek alternatives to continue helping Cuba.

“It doesn’t have to be a humanitarian crisis. I think they probably would come to us and want to make a deal,” Trump said Saturday. “So Cuba would be free again.”

He predicted they would make some sort of deal with Cuba and said, “I think, you know, we’ll be kind.”

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Price reported from Washington.