Cuba Faces Imminent Crisis as U.S. Intensifies Fuel Blockade
Cuba is teetering on the brink of a humanitarian crisis as the United States continues to tighten its grip on the island’s access to fuel, prompting widespread power outages and disruptions to daily life. The situation has become increasingly dire in recent weeks, with Cuba receiving its last oil shipment from Mexico on January 9th, according to reports.
The escalating pressure from Washington follows the recent capture and replacement of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a key ally and oil supplier for Cuba. The Trump administration has since moved to cut off remaining energy lifelines by threatening tariffs on countries that continue to ship fuel to the island. This strategy, described by some as a “blockade,” aims to force Havana into negotiations on U.S. Terms.
The impact is already being felt across Cuba. Airlines, including Air Canada, have cancelled flights due to fuel shortages, severely impacting the tourism sector – a crucial source of foreign currency. Massive power outages are now commonplace and the United Nations has warned of a potential “humanitarian collapse” if Cuba’s oil needs remain unmet.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro acknowledged on Sunday, February 22, 2026, that a “private company” from his country loaded the oil tanker “Ocean Mariner” with petroleum. The vessel reportedly departed Colombian waters and was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Caribbean.
President Trump signed an executive order on January 28th threatening to impose tariffs on nations selling crude oil to Cuba. The “Ocean Mariner” was one of the few tankers to reach Cuba after shipments from Venezuela ceased. Following a delivery of Mexican oil in early January, the tanker docked near Barranquilla, Colombia, at the end of the month and was reloaded with oil destined for the Dominican Republic, according to investigations by *The New York Times* based on maritime tracking data.
Petro stated on the social media platform X that “there is no Colombian public or private irregularity” regarding the transaction, adding that the company loading the ship was a private entity and the declared destination was the Dominican Republic. However, *The New York Times* reported that the ship deviated from its course towards Cuba on two occasions while off the coast of the Dominican Republic. On both instances, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the tanker, escorting it first back to the Dominican Republic and then to the Bahamas.
“There is no crime in the free transport of oil in the Caribbean,” Petro stated, urging the United States “to change its policy towards Cuba.” The Colombian president met with Trump at the White House earlier this month in what was described as a friendly meeting aimed at easing tensions that had been building since last year.
Analysts warn that Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis in 67 years, exacerbated by the suspension of Venezuelan oil supplies and the increased pressure from the Trump administration. The current sanctions are “piling on the damage from increased U.S. Economic warfare in recent years,” according to Mark Weisbrot. Daily life is grinding to a halt, with classes suspended at many schools and workers furloughed to conserve energy.
The Trump administration’s actions represent the most aggressive strategy towards Cuba in decades. For the first time in decades, Cuba’s leadership faces a crisis where its traditional methods of survival – external bailouts, mass emigration, and austerity – may prove insufficient. Havana has few options but to negotiate, but the terms offered by Washington remain unclear.
While Russia and China have condemned the U.S. Measures, their support has largely been symbolic thus far. Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply criticized the U.S. Fuel blockade after meeting with Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parilla, stating that Moscow considers the restrictions unacceptable.
