Following the U.S. takeover of Venezuela, access to core oil supplies for Cuba was swiftly severed. In January 2026, U.S. forces assumed control over Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, prompting Venezuela to immediately halt oil deliveries to Cuba. Subsequently, under pressure from the United States, Mexico also suspended its oil shipments. Prior to these developments, approximately three-quarters of Cuba’s oil imports had originated from these two countries. In early February, the White House issued an executive order activating a national emergency status, imposing tariffs on nations transporting fuel to Cuba. As a result, shipping companies, insurers, and traders voluntarily avoided routes to Cuba, effectively cutting off the supply chain.
The consequences of the blockade have become evident in the country’s power infrastructure. On September 18, Cuba experienced another nationwide grid failure—the sixth major blackout this year—with some regions enduring power outages exceeding 30 hours. Fuel shortages have led to transportation disruptions, multiple international airlines canceling flights, and hospitals suspending non-urgent surgeries. Over 100,000 patients have been affected by the outages, including 11,000 children.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1878030996690948/
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