Ever since the United States’ intervention in Venezuela early January, the island nation of Cuba has been unable to receive much-needed Venezuelan oil, months later, the blockade continues, and Cuba is in an energy crisis.
The blockade is motivated by the Trump administration’s desire for regime change in Cuba. In addition to blocking oil tankers, Trump is threatening any countries who try to resist the blockade with tariffs.
The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed concern as the oil crisis threatens the food supply and water system of the country. Cuba has been attempting to ration their oil, with the government shutting down schools and universities, but they have continued to suffer from total blackouts amid record low temperatures for the nation. Garbage has accumulated in cities due to a lack of fuel for garbage trucks, and hospitals have been compromised due to a lack of power.
On Feb. 25, there was an attack on Cuba’s coast as passengers on a United States-registered speedboat violated Cuba’s waters and opened fire on the Cuban coast guard, who responded in turn, killing four of the passengers and injuring six. Only a Cuban commander was injured on Cuba’s side, according to their ministry. The six injured offenders were placed under treatment and an additional seventh member was arrested in Cuba.
President Donald Trump called on Cuban officials to “make a deal before it’s too late” after initiating the blockade. Since then, he has claimed to be in discussion with the Cuban Government, saying that the United States could “have a friendly takeover of Cuba.”
Cuba’s First Secretary of the Communist Party, Miguel Díaz-Canel, first suggested that the country should prepare for a “war of the entire nation.” But on Feb. 6, he declared that “Cuba is ready for a talk with Washington for every topic without prerequisites.” Cubans have expressed a mix of hope and wariness against external manipulation, and fear for the stability of the country.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been at the head of discussions with the Cuban government, expressing that the end goal for the Cuban Government is for them to give up their power entirely.
The island nation relies on imports heavily, so with the blockade comes the question of how long can the Cuban people hold out? And what will give first?
