Florida's Republican Senator Rick Scott has declared that the Cuban regime's time is running out.
"President Trump is correct. These are indeed the final days for Díaz-Canel's regime and the Castro regime in Cuba. There will be no more oil for Cuba, no more financial support for Cuba," the senator stated on X.
"They must yield and allow the Cuban people the government they deserve: a democracy and the freedom that was stolen from them by the Castro regime decades ago," he added.
Scott's remarks follow President Trump's stern warning to the Cuban government on Sunday, announcing the immediate cessation of oil and monetary shipments from Venezuela, a critical economic lifeline that the Island has relied upon for years.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump emphatically declared, "No more oil or money for Cuba: zero! I strongly urge them to make a deal before it's too late."
Trump highlighted that for decades, Cuba heavily depended on Venezuelan oil and financial resources in exchange for "security services" provided by Havana to Venezuelan leaders Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro.
Days earlier, Scott predicted that the Cuban regime might collapse by 2026 or 2027 as a direct result of the downfall of Chavismo in Venezuela and a wave of political changes he expects to sweep across the region.
Speaking to Fox News, Scott stated that the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces marks the beginning of a hemispheric transformation process.
"This is the start of changing Venezuela; then we'll fix Cuba, Nicaragua will also be addressed, and next year we'll have a new president in Colombia. Democracy is returning to this hemisphere," he declared.
The senator recalled that back in 2024, during an appearance on the program 60 Minutes, he had warned that Maduro's days were "numbered" and that his removal from power—whether through internal or external factors—would directly impact the Cuban regime, which he described as reliant on Venezuelan support.
Impact of U.S. Policies on the Cuban Regime
How does the cessation of Venezuelan oil and financial support affect Cuba?
The end of Venezuelan oil and monetary support would significantly strain Cuba's economy, as the nation has long relied on these resources for sustenance and in exchange for security services provided to Venezuela.
Why does Rick Scott believe the Cuban regime's days are numbered?
Rick Scott believes the Cuban regime's days are numbered due to economic pressures from the cessation of Venezuelan support and a broader political shift in the region, which he anticipates will result in democratic changes.