The United States has cut off oil shipments to Cuba, triggering severe blackouts and energy shortages affecting millions, as part of a strategy to pressure the communist leadership without military intervention. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demands political and economic changes for relief, but Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel defiantly refuses to resign, with Russia providing limited support amid a deepening economic crisis.
Cuba is experiencing its worst energy crisis in decades, with widespread blackouts and severe hardships including hunger, poverty, and shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel, as the island grapples with a halt in oil deliveries from Venezuela and a US embargo. The crisis has prompted harsh government emergency measures and diplomatic tensions with the United States.
US President Donald Trump has suggested a friendly takeover of Cuba, citing talks with Havana and the island's economic struggles. His remarks follow a recent armed incident off Cuba's coast.
A widespread power outage struck Cuba on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, affecting millions of people and causing significant disruptions across the country. The outage was triggered by a shutdown at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant due to a boiler leak and fire.