January 4, 2026 | 12:24 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - US President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that many Cubans died when US forces attacked Venezuela and kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro.
These two Latin American countries are close allies, sharing communist ideology and jointly facing US economic sanctions.
For decades, Cuba has heavily relied on Caracas for economic support and fuel.
Prior to the US attack on early Saturday, as Washington deployed troops in the Caribbean, the Venezuelan leader was portrayed in US media reports as heavily reliant on advisers and guards from Cuba.
A senior Venezuelan official told the New York Times as quoted by TRT World that civilians and soldiers died during the US operation targeting President Nicolas Maduro.
In an interview with The New York Post cited by RNZ after a press conference, Trump said, "You know, a lot of Cubans died last night. Did you know that?"
He added, "A lot of Cubans died. They were protecting Maduro. It's not a good move."
Trump did not further elaborate on the number of people killed.
"Cuba has always heavily relied on Venezuela. That's where they get their money, and they protect Venezuela, but it didn't go so well in this case," Trump claimed to the Post.
During a joint press conference with Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Havana.
"If I were in Havana and part of the government, I would be a little worried," said Rubio, who is of Cuban immigrant descent.
However, Trump told the Post that he is not considering military action against Cuba, which is currently experiencing its own economic crisis.
"No, Cuba will collapse on its own. Cuba is in very bad shape," Trump said.
US forces kidnapped and flew Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, out of Venezuela on Saturday morning in what US President Donald Trump described as a dramatic overnight operation.
Trump said the United States will lead Venezuela until a "safe, proper, and wise transition" is secured.
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York unsealed charges on Saturday morning, accusing Maduro and Flores of smuggling "tons of cocaine" into the United States, along with other alleged crimes.
Critics warn that the attack violates international law, bypasses the US Congress, and risks further instability across Venezuela and the wider region.
Read: Indonesia's Ex-Diplomat: US Attack on Venezuela Is Law of Jungle
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