He The Government of Venezuela ratified this Sunday its “historic position” in its relations with Cubaat a time when the close ties between Havana and Caracas are put to the test by the attacks and pressure from the United States on the Chavista authorities.
In an official statement, Caracas defended that his relationship with Cuba and the Caribbean sand supported by “brotherhood”“solidarity” and “cooperation”, after the recent threats from Donald Trump, who assured that the island will stop receiving money or oil of the South American country.
In its message, the Government now chaired by Delcy Rodríguez – after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by US forces – ratified its support for the “free exercise of self-determination and national sovereignty”in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and international law.
“Political and diplomatic dialogue is the only way to peacefully resolve controversies of any nature,” stressed the statement, which insisted on the principles of non-intervention, sovereign equality of States and self-determination of peoples.
Change of tone and no mention of oil
The new statement from the current Venezuelan Government does not make explicit reference to the agreements and spheres of bilateral cooperation with Cubaparticularly to the strategic energy issue; while seems to confirm a change in tone by the Chavista leadership in their political messages.
In this regard, several analysts have pointed out that Caracas’ recent pronouncements contrast with the historically confrontational tone with Washington and, even when they denounce the US attack and the capture of Maduro, they do so from a conciliatory perspective.
Regarding its links with Cuba and other allies, the messages are less emphatic and more concise in arguments and details than those prior to the events of January 3.
Regarding the issue of oil, the central axis of the controversy and Trump’s threats, this Sunday’s statement does not mention itas the Cuban economist Pedro Monreal highlights.
“The word oil – the heart of the matter – is not mentioned in the notification. We still don’t know,” the specialist noted in his X account.
Venezuela releases a statement on relations with Cuba on the same day that the US announced that “there will be no more Venezuelan oil” for Cuba. In fact, the word oil – the heart of the matter – is not mentioned in the notification. We still don’t know pic.twitter.com/pUJrQdlTVu
— Pedro Monreal (@pmmonreal) January 11, 2026
Trump’s threats towards Cuba and its relationship with Venezuela
The Caracas statement came after Trump claimed that Cuba has been “living for years” off of Venezuelan money and crude oil in exchange for “security services” for the governments of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro.
“BUT NO MORE!” wrote the president on his Truth Social network, where he also assured that “the majority of those Cubans are DEAD from the latest US attack.”
Trump said that Venezuela now has the protection of the “most powerful army” in the world, referring to US forces, and suggested the Cuban government reach an agreement with the United States “before it is too late.”
The controversy occurs in the context of Operation “Absolute Resolution”, as the Trump Administration baptized the military operation on January 3 to capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
According to the Venezuelan Government, The attack left around 100 dead, including 32 Cuban soldiers.
“No one really knows what is going to happen with Cuba”: Trump in meeting with US oil companies
Cuba’s response
For its part, the Government of Cuba responded to Trump by assuring that it “does not receive and has never received” monetary or material compensation for security services provided to other countries, in reference to the Cuban soldiers who died in Venezuela.
This same Sunday, Havana once again demanded that Washington put an end to the “brutal kidnapping” of Maduro and Floreswhich he described as illegal.
“It is eight days since the brutal kidnapping of the legitimate president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, and his wife, Cilia Flores,” wrote Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez on social networks.
The Cuban minister demanded the end of what he called an “illegal detention”, respect for the immunity of both and the end of the “judicial and media farce” surrounding the process, in addition to asking the international community to join that demand.
It is 8 days since the brutal kidnapping of the legitimate President of #VenezuelaNicolás Maduro Moros, and his wife Cilia Flores.
We demand from the government of #USA put an end to this illegal detention, respect his immunity, stop the judicial and media farce that this has turned into… pic.twitter.com/DBkT4ftGUn
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) January 11, 2026
The Venezuelan president and his wife were captured in Caracas on January 3 during attacks in the capital and three other neighboring states.
After their transfer to the United States, both appeared before the court of the Southern District of New York, where the Former Venezuelan president declared himself “an innocent man” of the drug trafficking charges brought against him by the Trump Administration.
