The U.S. State Department maintains that its restrictions on oil in Cuba are not exacerbating the humanitarian crisis on the island.
Following over a month of oil deprivation for Cuba—initiated by a military blockade of Venezuelan oil exports and threatened tariffs on any third-party nations supplying the island—the U.S. has pushed Cuba toward an energy disaster. According to a report from the Spanish news agency EFE, which cites two sources, Havana has alerted international airlines that it is on the brink of exhausting its aviation fuel reserves:
The official Notam (notice to airmen) indicates that the kerosene shortage affects all international airports in Cuba. This notification will remain valid from February 10 to March 11.
“JET A1 FUEL NOT AVBL” (fuel for A1 aircraft not available), the message reads, as cataloged in the database of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Currently, the impacted airlines—primarily American, Spanish, Panamanian, and Mexican—have not publicly stated how they plan to address the situation, which may disrupt routes and schedules in the immediate future.
Historically, during similar crises—such as the special period in the ’90s and other recent supply chain interruptions—airlines adjusted their routes with extra stopovers in Mexico or the Dominican Republic to refuel.
Most flights linking Cuba to the outside world operate between Florida (Miami, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale), Spain (Madrid), Panama (Panama City), and Mexico (Mexico City, Merida, Cancun).
Cuba also maintains regular flights to several other Latin American capitals, including Bogotá (Colombia), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), and Caracas (Venezuela).
This new warning could further harm Cuba’s already struggling tourism sector, which has faced severe downturns since the pandemic due to COVID-19, U.S. sanctions, and the nation’s persistent economic challenges.
Recently, various countries have cautioned their citizens about the risks of traveling to Cuba, citing blackouts and escalating tensions with the U.S.
Economic Paralysis
Washington’s stringent energy blockade affects not only Cuba’s tourism industry but also grips everyday life. Public transport, gas stations, factories, hospitals, and universities are experiencing a gradual decline. As noted by La Jornada, “Electricity is the lifeblood that moves a country; its absence paralyzes a nation.”
The U.S. is targeting not only vessels near Cuban shores but also intercepting tankers worldwide that are accused of transporting Venezuelan crude. For instance, the tanker Aquila II left Venezuelan waters in early January as part of a flotilla, carrying roughly 700,000 barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude destined for China, as reported by Reuters:
Jesus christ. The United States is now intercepting oil tankers in the INDIAN OCEAN that dare to carry oil to starving Cuba. The Monroe Doctrine is not simply a vision for the hemisphere. It is a doctrine of global domination. https://t.co/x3fsux3BMz
— David Adler (@davidrkadler) February 9, 2026
Hegseth stated that the Aquila II was operating in defiance of the U.S. “quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.” He asserted, “You will exhaust your fuel long before you can escape our pursuit.”
Nevertheless, there is a small beacon of hope for the Cuban populace. As reported by CNN Español, the U.S. State Department has announced a provision of $6 million in humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the suffering caused by the military and Treasury Department’s siege:
The assistance will be distributed via Caritas, a network of Catholic charities, according to Jeremy Lewin, a top State Department official overseeing foreign aid. He clarified that there had been no direct dialogue with the Cuban government on this matter.
The prior administration cut off oil supplies to Cuba from Venezuela, and last week threatened to impose tariffs on nations exporting oil to the island.
In a particularly bewildering statement, Lewin dismissed claims that U.S. restrictions on oil were worsening the humanitarian crisis in Cuba. He stated that Hurricane Melissa’s aftereffects and oil being “hoarded by the state monopoly” were the culprits. “Any assertion that recent oil supply changes account for Cuba’s current situation is simply unfounded,” he proclaimed.
This prompts the pressing question: why proceed with the humanitarian aid if the need isn’t linked to these restrictions?
A separate segment of the CNN article features an energy expert whose analysis contradicts Lewin’s assertion. The expert mentioned that while roughly 80% of Cuba’s thermoelectric energy is sourced domestically, the island is rapidly depleting its diesel supply due to the U.S. naval blockade and tariff threats:
Cuba’s daily diesel consumption stands at 22,000 barrels, critical for powering buses, trucks, tractors, boats, water pipeline systems, and other distributed power sources. Recently, a sugar mill reported a diesel deficit, leaving them short of fuels needed to operate machinery.
To provide relief, the State Department plans to send $6 million in supplies such as “canned tuna, rice, beans, pasta, basic necessities, small solar lamps, and hygiene kits.” It raises concerns that a substantial portion of these funds could be lost to administrative costs and other inefficiencies.
This leads to another question: why offer such limited support?
If the objective is to starve a nation into submission, then why provide meager aid along the way?
Possible motivations remain a point of speculation as to whether figures like Marco Rubio are experiencing an ethical awakening concerning the impact of U.S. policies on Cuba. However, such an idea seems highly unlikely.
False Negotiations?
Moreover, according to a recent report from Drop Site News, Rubio has apparently been misleading Trump regarding U.S. negotiations with the Cuban government. This notion aligns with broader suspicions:
As President Trump claimed, the U.S. is deeply involved in negotiations with high-level Cuban officials while applying maximum pressure on the island. “We’re discussing matters with the top people in Cuba,” Trump stated during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
However, Cuban authorities claim to be open to negotiations on issues including human rights, democracy, tourism, and foreign investment, provided these discussions respect Cuba’s sovereignty and are free from preconditions. Trump is familiar with Cuba’s potential for foreign investment, having maintained a registered trademark in Havana for years.
Nevertheless, multiple unnamed Cuban and American officials report that no such high-level discussions have ever taken place. Trump may not be lying in his assertions, but rather misled; according to sources, Rubio’s efforts have been to create the illusion of negotiations, intending to later claim that talks failed due to Cuban resistance. By doing so, Rubio would present regime change as the only avenue available for an administration reluctant to reconsider its stance.
One fact is clear: the repercussions of the U.S. economic asphyxiation of Cuba will ultimately be measured in lives lost. A comprehensive study found that U.S.-led sanctions have led to the deaths of around 38 million people since 1970—far exceeding casualties from direct conflicts.
This study, published by The Lancet Global Health in 2024, has received minimal attention from mainstream media. Current coverage often suggests shared culpability for Cuba’s energy crisis, while neglecting the critical role of the U.S. blockade.
During COVID, Cuba extended help to many nations, often free of charge. Now, those same nations are aligning to impose the U.S. blockade. It’s a disgrace to the empire.
— Alan MacLeod (@AlanRMacLeod) February 9, 2026
In a BBC interview, the Cuban ambassador faced accusations of the government lacking a plan to combat the U.S. siege—a striking assertion considering Cuba’s struggle against the fallout from over six decades of U.S. sanctions.
Cuban ambassador to the UK, @IsmaraWalter: Cuba has managed to provide free education and healthcare to all.
Interviewer: Sure, but that’s the past. Now, because the U.S. is using its power to crush that, you’re the problem.
What an outrageous framing of the situation. pic.twitter.com/0J0tLimAAP
A Legacy of Resilience
Cuba has endured 65 years of economic and financial warfare led by the U.S. and has somehow managed to survive. During the 1990s, after losing trade with its primary ally, the Soviet Union, Cuba pivoted to ecologically sustainable agriculture, with significant success:
From ‘Half-Earth Socialism’: how Cuba became the world’s most ecologically sustainable country while preserving universal healthcare and education during the 1990s energy crisis. pic.twitter.com/LCWzHPP7wW
Today, however, conditions are arguably even more dire. The U.S.’s economic pressures compound the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, from which Cuba has yet to recover. Observers are now drawing parallels to the “Gazification” of Cuba, thanks to U.S. policies:
The U.S. regime is imposing a Gaza-like blockade on Cuba to starve its people, hoping for regime change. This constitutes a colossal war crime against a nation that poses no threat to its neighbors — unlike the U.S. https://t.co/ci8OM7Weop
Since December, Cuba has been systematically starved of oil. Following the U.S.’s cutoff of Venezuelan supplies on January 3, Washington threatened tariffs against any nation trading oil with Cuba at the end of January. Remarkably, Cuba’s oil consumption is relatively minimal—around 112,000-120,000 barrels per day—so a couple of Suezmax tankers could significantly alleviate the blockade.
Two or three nations could easily break this blockade. China and Russia are vital contenders; China faces fewer repercussions from U.S. threats, while Russia is in a similar situation of suffering sanctions and could provide naval protection for oil shipments.
As highlighted previously, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has commented on the lack of market access for Russian oil and gas due to sanctions—making it clear that the pressure is mutual in this geopolitical chess game.
Russia FM Lavrov: “Our companies are blatantly being pushed out of Venezuela. Everyone is banned from buying Russian oil and gas.” pic.twitter.com/kdXBeQyxsk
In a recent RIA interview, Russian ambassador to Cuba Viktor Coronelli affirmed that Russia has frequently supplied oil to the island and will continue to do so. Beijing also reiterated its support for Cuban sovereignty, emphasizing firm opposition to foreign interference.
Numerous oil-producing nations are also likely to offer assistance to Cuba. Countries such as Angola, Brazil, and Colombia—grateful for Cuba’s historical support—could potentially step in to help.
Cuba invested heavily in Angola, aided Algeria’s liberation, rebuilt hospitals in Vietnam during U.S. bombings, and supported numerous struggles throughout Latin America. Any of these nations could contribute now! pic.twitter.com/KS8dnAudAn
Moreover, Brazil and Mexico—two of Latin America’s largest economies—should arguably lend their support, particularly as they are geographically proximate and share ties with Cuba. Despite some limitations due to U.S. pressures, Mexico recently dispatched two military vessels with over 800 tons of food and essentials to Cuba.
I am incredibly proud of Mexico and its admirable president, and deeply ashamed of the rest of the world for their indifference while the U.S. devastates societies globally. https://t.co/8EUE15yR9F
During her recent press conference, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described the U.S. blockade of Cuba as “unjust,” highlighting the collective punishment inflicted upon the island’s population, an action considered a war crime under international humanitarian law.
Mexico confirms that oil shipments to Cuba are halted due to U.S. pressure, but President Sheinbaum insists that Mexico is taking “all diplomatic actions” to resume them. “It’s extremely unjust. You cannot strangle a people like this.” pic.twitter.com/oGZzDjhxOs
Currently, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has issued only vague statements, without concrete action, regarding Cuba’s energy blockade. He emphasized the importance of voting as a means to strengthen democracy in Venezuela but failed to address the drastic consequences of U.S. actions in the region.
This lack of action from significant Latin American countries possibly enables the U.S. to exert its influence unchallenged, further exacerbating the situation not just in Cuba, but potentially throughout the region.
