US Sanctions Cuba: Pressure Intensifies on Oil Sales and Regime

The Government of the USA formalized this Thursday⁤ a ‍new posture of confrontation towards the cuban regime through the signing of an executive order by the ‍president Donald Trump.

The document declares a national emergency, considering that Havana’s policies and actions represent an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to national ⁣security and US foreign policy.

This measure, which goes into effect at 12:01 am on January⁤ 30, 2026, seeks to economically suffocate the island following the⁢ interruption of the supply of Venezuelan crude oil following the capture of Nicolás⁢ Maduro in November 2025.

The mechanism of economic and‍ tariff pressure

The new administration strategy trump consists of the implementation of a system of additional ad valorem tariffs on imports of goods from any⁣ nation⁢ that, directly or indirectly, sells or‍ provides oil ‍to ⁣ Cuba.

The order specifies that indirect provision includes the use of intermediaries or third countries that have knowledge of ⁣the final destination of the cargo.

The⁢ execution of this policy involves key figures in the US⁣ cabinet. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, ‍will be responsible for monitoring and determining which countries supply⁣ crude oil ‍to the island, and then report his findings to Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

Later, Rubio will have the authority ⁤to recommend the magnitude of the additional tax that will be applied to the products‍ of these nations,⁣ with the aim of⁤ holding the regime responsible for ⁤its international alliances.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla used his social networks to condemn in the strongest terms what⁢ he described as a new escalation that proposes⁣ imposing a total blockade on fuel supplies.

National security and international ties

Washington justifies this escalation by arguing that cuba facilitates the establishment of sophisticated military and intelligence capabilities on its territory.

According to the official document, the island hosts ⁤Russia’s largest overseas signals intelligence facility and maintains ⁢deep defense cooperation with the People’s Republic of China.

Furthermore, the US administration maintains that the regime allows groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah to use its environment to build economic ⁣and ⁢security ⁣ties aimed at destabilizing the Western ⁣hemisphere.

“Cuba will not be able to survive,” the US president told the press, adding that the word drown is “very harsh,” ‍but ensuring that the Caribbean country ⁤is “a ⁢failed nation.”

Trump has maintained that the Cuban government’s days ⁢are numbered and that the end of the flow of oil will cause ⁤a regime change in a⁣ nation affected by ⁤a serious economic an

On the other hand, an inquiry of The New York Times revealed that Cuba has been reselling part of Venezuelan oil to China to obtain foreign currency due to the decline in tourism and remittances.

The economic impact of these sanctions could be⁣ devastating. according to a study provided⁢ to the agency EFE According to economist Miguel Alejandro Hayes, a 30% ‍drop in fuel availability would translate into a 27% reduction in ⁤Gross⁣ Domestic Product (GDP) and a 60% increase in food prices.

In addition, Cuban thermoelectric plants, which supply 65% of the country’s fuel, are obsolete with more than ⁣four decades‍ of operation, according to figures from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) of Cuba.