US PresidentDonald Trumpthreatened new tariffs on Thursday on countries supplying oil toCuba,escalating a pressure campaign against the Communist-run island and long-time foe of the United States.

The move, authorised by an executive order under a national emergency declaration, stopped short of specifying tariff rates or singling out any countries whose products could face UStariffs.

Cuba's state-run media shot back shortly after Trump's announcement, warning that the order threatened to paralyze electricity generation, agricultural production, water supply and health services on an island already suffering a crippling economic crisis.

Read moreCuba's Diaz-Canel says there are no current talks with US after Trump threats

"What is the goal? A genocide of the Cuban people,"Cuba's government said in a statement on the nightly TV newscast. "All spheres of life will be suffocated by the US government."

Emboldened by theUS military's seizure of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid earlier this month, Trump has repeatedly talked of acting againstCuba and pressuring its leadership.

Trump said this week that "Cubawill be failing pretty soon," adding that Venezuela, once the island's top oil supplier, has not recently sent oil or money toCuba.

Read moreTrump urges Cuba to cut deal with US 'before it's too late'

Reuters exclusively reported last week that Mexico -Cuba's top supplier after Venezuela cut off shipments in December - wasalso reviewing whether to continue sending oil amid growing fears it could face reprisals from the United States over the policy.

Trump has used tariff threats as a foreign policy tool throughout his second term in office. Cuba's president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, said this month that Washington had no moral authority to force a deal onCubaafter Trump suggested the Communist-run island should strike an agreement with the US.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Originally published on France24