From Threat to Action: Donald Trump’s Bold Move – Signing EO ‘Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Cuba’ (Effective Jan. 30, 2026) to Declare Emergency, Accuse Regime of Malign Activities and Hostile Alliances, and Authorize Potential Ad Valorem Duties on Any Nation’s Exports to the U.S. If They Continue Oil Deliveries to Havana, Seen as the Toughest Step Yet to Economically Strangle Cuba and Disrupt Its Energy Dependence

The order landed like a political bomb, exploding through Washington and the Americas with immediate shockwaves. In one decisive stroke, Trump declared Cuba a “national emergency” threat, signaling to the world that the U.S. was taking a bold and aggressive stance. At the same time, he quietly armed himself with a powerful economic weapon capable of reaching beyond the island—able to target Mexico, Russia, and any other nation that continues to keep Havana’s lights on. International allies are furious, viewing the move as reckless and destabilizing. Cuba, already teetering on the edge of economic and social collapse, now faces the looming threat of intensified isolation. And on top of that, a complex tariff war tied to oil, migration, and potential regime change is poised to erupt, threatening to reshape the region’s geopolitical landscape.

Trump’s new executive order doesn’t merely target Havana in isolation; it weaponizes Cuba’s last remaining lifeline, turning energy into leverage in an unprecedented way. By threatening punitive tariffs on any country that sells oil to the island, Washington is sending a stark message: even acts of humanitarian assistance could carry a steep economic cost in the U.S. market. Mexico, which has become Cuba’s primary oil supplier following previous restrictions, finds itself caught in a perilous crossfire. As a USMCA partner, Mexico is forced into an impossible choice: uphold regional solidarity and risk a confrontation with its largest trading partner, or comply with U.S. pressure and potentially betray broader diplomatic ties. The stakes for Mexico are enormous, as its economy and international reputation hang in the balance.