Cuba's Energy Crisis Deepens as US Blockade Tightens Its Grip
A crippling shortage of fuel has left airlines scrambling as Cuban authorities inform them that refueling on the island is no longer an option. The move, part of a broader effort to ration energy, comes as the Trump administration continues its campaign to strangle Cuba's economy with an iron fist.
Starting Tuesday and set to last until March 11, jet fuel will be unavailable at nine airports across the island, including Havana's José Martí International Airport. This development is a significant blow to Cuba's tourism industry, which relies heavily on long-haul routes from countries like Russia and Canada.
The US blockade has already taken its toll on Cuba's energy sector, with the Caribbean nation relying increasingly on Venezuela and Mexico for fuel. The latest move marks a further escalation of the crisis, as the Trump administration imposes tariffs on goods sold or provided by these countries.
While the impact on shorter regional flights is likely to be minimal, long-haul routes could be severely disrupted. Air Canada has already announced it will suspend flights to Cuba, while other airlines are planning delays and layovers in the Dominican Republic before continuing on to Havana.
The crisis comes at a critical time for Cuba's economy, which has been struggling with deepening energy shortages and food and medicine shortages that have left residents feeling like they're back in the 1990s during the Special Period. The government has announced further measures, including reduced bank hours and suspended cultural events, as it struggles to cope with the fallout.
The situation is on the brink of chaos, with power outages lasting up to 10 hours and fuel shortages for vehicles widespread. Food and medicine are in short supply, leaving many Cubans feeling like they're walking on thin ice. The US sanctions that have crippled Cuba's economy for over six decades show no signs of abating.
The crisis has also taken a toll on the country's infrastructure, with banks reducing operating hours and fuel distribution companies cutting back on sales to the Cuban peso. Even major events like the Havana International Book Fair are being suspended, as the government tries to adapt to the new reality.
As tensions between Cuba and the US continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how long this crisis will last and what measures the Cuban government will take next. One thing is certain, however: for Cubans, life has become increasingly precarious in a country that's struggling to cope with the consequences of its economy being squeezed by decades-old sanctions.
A crippling shortage of fuel has left airlines scrambling as Cuban authorities inform them that refueling on the island is no longer an option. The move, part of a broader effort to ration energy, comes as the Trump administration continues its campaign to strangle Cuba's economy with an iron fist.
Starting Tuesday and set to last until March 11, jet fuel will be unavailable at nine airports across the island, including Havana's José Martí International Airport. This development is a significant blow to Cuba's tourism industry, which relies heavily on long-haul routes from countries like Russia and Canada.
The US blockade has already taken its toll on Cuba's energy sector, with the Caribbean nation relying increasingly on Venezuela and Mexico for fuel. The latest move marks a further escalation of the crisis, as the Trump administration imposes tariffs on goods sold or provided by these countries.
While the impact on shorter regional flights is likely to be minimal, long-haul routes could be severely disrupted. Air Canada has already announced it will suspend flights to Cuba, while other airlines are planning delays and layovers in the Dominican Republic before continuing on to Havana.
The crisis comes at a critical time for Cuba's economy, which has been struggling with deepening energy shortages and food and medicine shortages that have left residents feeling like they're back in the 1990s during the Special Period. The government has announced further measures, including reduced bank hours and suspended cultural events, as it struggles to cope with the fallout.
The situation is on the brink of chaos, with power outages lasting up to 10 hours and fuel shortages for vehicles widespread. Food and medicine are in short supply, leaving many Cubans feeling like they're walking on thin ice. The US sanctions that have crippled Cuba's economy for over six decades show no signs of abating.
The crisis has also taken a toll on the country's infrastructure, with banks reducing operating hours and fuel distribution companies cutting back on sales to the Cuban peso. Even major events like the Havana International Book Fair are being suspended, as the government tries to adapt to the new reality.
As tensions between Cuba and the US continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how long this crisis will last and what measures the Cuban government will take next. One thing is certain, however: for Cubans, life has become increasingly precarious in a country that's struggling to cope with the consequences of its economy being squeezed by decades-old sanctions.
Cuba is literally living on borrowed time rn. 6 decades of US sanctions are taking their toll and it's only getting worse 
. Air Canada suspending flights is just the tip of the iceberg 
. What's next? Food and medicine shortages? How's that gonna affect the tourism industry and the economy? 
to cuba!! they're already strugglin' and now this energy crisis is gonna make things worse 
like, what's goin on?! how are they s'posed to get their economy back on track? 
i feel so bad for the cuban ppl 
gotta keep 'em in our thoughts and prayers 
and it's just going to make life harder for the Cuban people who are already struggling with food & medicine shortages. 
what's next, cutting off their internet too? 
we should be supporting them, not suffocating them with sanctions 
. I mean, who needs a stable energy sector when you can have a good excuse to suspend cultural events and reduce bank hours? It's like they're trying to create some kinda " Cuban crisis" to keep people guessing 
. And let's be real, if Cuba's economy is that fragile, maybe it's time for them to rethink their socialist policies 
. Maybe a little dose of capitalism wouldn't hurt (just kidding, I'm all about the socialism 
). But seriously, the US blockade has been in place for so long now that you have to wonder if Cuba would be any better off without it... probably not 
. How r u supposed to survive without basic necessities? The US blockade just feels so unfair, it's like they're playing a cruel game w/ Cuba's economy 
Air Canada suspending flights is huge, can u imagine not being able to travel abroad easily?! 
Sending all my positive vibes to the ppl of Cuba, hope they get thru this crisis soon 
. I don't think anyone wants to see Cuba suffer like this. can't we just try to find some common ground and help each other out instead of making things worse? 
.
and the government is trying to ration everything but it's not looking good 
The Cubans are suffering big time and it's breaking my heart to see people struggling like this 
.
like they're trying to make things worse on purpose. first it was the us blockade, now they're rationing fuel and airlines can't even refuel here? what's next? will they be rationing air too? 
, and now it's like they're makin a bigger deal outta it 
& I'm wonderin if these airlines r gonna be flyin anywhere else besides the Dominican Republic 
️
. Russia and Canada are always gonna be options for flights, right? 
the tourism industry is already suffering, and now airlines are struggling to fly in due to lack of fuel... what's the point of having resources if you can't use them?