As tensions between the US and Cuba rise to the highest levels since the Cuban Missile Crisis, the mood was grim at a recent staff meeting at the US Embassy in Havana.

Trump said on January 11 that after Maduro’s capture, no Venezuelan oil or money will go to Cuba, a close ally of Caracas. Trump’s comments on Tuesday warn of a failing economy on the island, which comes amid reports that his administration is aiming to remove the leadership as it pursues a foreign policy prioritizing the Western Hemisphere.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that oil shipments to Cuba have been suspended, reflecting a decision made by Petróleos Mexicanos.

Tourism in Cuba is plummeting at a time when the island desperately needs that revenue. For almost two decades, a steady trickle of visitors led to a boom in tourism, only for the pandemic and severe blackouts to hit,

GOP Reps. Carlos Giménez and Mario Díaz-Balart said it was time to exert more pressure that might bring down the regime.

The Treasury Department announced a general license authorizing U.S. firms to trade Venezuelan oil after Caracas approved a law to improve terms for foreign investors.