Following the US armed attack against Venezuela on January 3 – in which more than 100 people were killed, and President Nicolás Maduro was taken prisoner (and later transferred to New York) – Venezuela’s oil sales to Cuba were suspended. The Caribbean island has been under an economic and commercial blockade imposed by the US for more than 60 years.

But the Trump administration went further. In an attempt to strangle Cuba even more, Washington warned that any country that sent oil to Cuba would be punished with a 10% increase in tariffs on products from that country entering the United States, which deterred countries such as Mexico that had also been sending oil to Cuba.

Faced with this reality, Cuba has found itself in serious economic straits. Venezuela had been the island’s main supplier of hydrocarbons for 25 years, so Washington’s tacit control of Venezuelan oil has caused difficulties that have particularly affected the civilian population. Tourism, one of Cuba’s main sources of income, has declined significantly due to the shortage of fuel, including that required to refuel planes arriving on the island.

Likewise, Cuba’s energy system, which is highly dependent on oil for its operation, has resulted in extraordinary blackouts throughout the country. This jeopardizes not only the production and distribution of basic goods, but also the very functioning of basic services in hospitals and schools.

Solidarity with the Cuban people

Many leaders from various countries have harshly criticized the measure, considering it a violation of the human rights of Cubans and a threat to their lives and dignity. This was expressed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who asked the United States to reconsider its decision in favor of the Cuban people. In addition, the Mexican government sent tons of food, personal hygiene products, and other basic subsistence items to Cuba following the intensification of the economic and commercial blockade measures imposed on Havana.

Movements in Latin America have also sought to address the fuel crisis by putting pressure on their governments. Oil workers in Brazil have helped launch the “Oil for Cuba” initiative to call on Brazil to immediately send fuel to the Caribbean island and break the de facto energy blockade imposed by the United States.

The Single Federation of Oil Workers of Brazil (FUP), which sent a letter to the state-owned oil company Petrobras, stating: “Given the recent tightening of trade and energy restrictions that have directly impacted supplies to [Cuba], creating humanitarian risks and compromising essential services, we believe that institutional dialogue is essential to discuss viable alternatives, regulatory and operational aspects, as well as possible avenues for cooperation that can be built on the principles of solidarity, sovereignty, and social responsibility.”

United States announces partial sale of oil to Cuba

For its part, Washington has just announced that it will authorize the sale of oil to Cuba under conditions controlled by the United States. According to the Treasury Department, the United States will allow oil to enter Cuba as long as the fuel is handled on the island by private citizens and companies, thus attempting to wrest control of not only its energy security from the state, but also to strengthen the private sector.

In addition, Washington clarified: “To be authorized, exports must be for the use of the Cuban private sector and for private economic sector activities, including humanitarian needs.” The agreement stipulates that oil and gas sent to Cuba must necessarily leave from the United States, even if its origin was Venezuela or another country.

This does not mean that Washington is ruling out the possibility of increasing tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, but rather that the United States now seeks to ensure absolute control over fuel imports to the island, which could be seen as an attempt by the Trump administration to control Cuba’s energy future.

A few weeks ago, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced that Cuba has always been willing to engage in dialogue under conditions of equality and without threats. For now, it remains to be seen whether Cuba will accept this proposal from the United States.

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