Cuba Faces Dire Economic Crisis Amid US Pressure and Energy Shortages

In a stark acknowledgment of the deteriorating economic landscape, Cuba's president has remarked that the intense pressure from the United States—termed 'suffocation' by the regime—has exacerbated an already critical situation. President Miguel Díaz-Canel has urged Cubans to make sacrifices and adapt their strategies to navigate through this challenging period, all while attributing the country’s troubles to aggressive campaigns of slander, hatred, and psychological warfare directed against the government by the US. In a dramatic political context, former US President Donald Trump openly expressed his desires for a regime change in Cuba. Just last week, he enacted a presidential order imposing punitive tariffs on any nation supplying oil to Cuba, a strategy deemed to provoke an energy crisis that could potentially overthrow the communist regime that has been in power for nearly 70 years. The ongoing situation highlights the gravity of Cuba's fuel shortages, especially following the cessation of oil shipments from Venezuela after the recent political upheaval involving Nicolás Maduro. Reports indicate that these oil shortages have severely impacted daily life, with taxi drivers standing in line for more than 26 hours to obtain their allotted government gasoline. The restrictions are stringent, with individuals only permitted to purchase a maximum of 40 liters per week, and all transactions required to be made in US dollars—currency that is scarce for many. During his address, Díaz-Canel stated, 'We will take measures that require effort but that will not be permanent,' reaffirming a commitment to resist capitulation to US demands. Meanwhile, Mexico has offered humanitarian support in the form of oil supplies, yet Trump claims the US has attempted to block this assistance—a contention met with denial from the Mexican President, Claudia Sheinbaum. She has voiced concerns over the dire consequences if oil reserves were to deplete entirely, indicating that hospitals relying on diesel for backup power could cease operations. With only two weeks' worth of oil reserves remaining as reported by the Financial Times, the urgency of the situation becomes stark. Beyond fuel, Cuba grapples with escalating food shortages. The Spanish newspaper El País reports a troubling rise in street begging and scavenging as residents struggle to find sustenance. The electricity situation is no better, with numerous neighborhoods in the capital, Havana, receiving electricity for only four hours a day, while rural areas in eastern Cuba face prolonged outages lasting several days. The financial strain on the populace is compounded further by soaring prices for food and transportation, primarily due to exorbitant transportation costs. Those without family members abroad capable of sending remittances in hard currency are left to endure a severe daily struggle. The impact of power shortages has even disrupted everyday activities; many Cubans were unable to watch the president’s half-hour speech live due to electricity outages and instead had to rely on accounts from others who viewed it. In a candid interview with the Spanish news agency EFE, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba’s deputy foreign minister, acknowledged, 'The country is facing its worst situation ever. It is difficult for the government and very difficult for the population as a whole.' As the situation unfolds, it's clear that Cuba stands at a critical juncture, where internal resilience and external pressures will ultimately shape the nation’s path forward. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2