• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio blames Cuba’s leadership for the island’s deepening shortages, rejecting the notion that U.S. sanctions are primarily to blame.
  • Cuba faces rolling blackouts, strict fuel rationing, and food scarcity, with the government implementing emergency measures including expanded solar power and domestic oil production.
  • The crisis has sparked protests and a political standoff, with Rubio calling for regime change and offering limited aid tied to political cooperation.

U.S. Blames Havana, Not Sanctions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly blamed Cuba’s leadership for the country’s acute shortages of electricity, food, and fuel, arguing that mismanagement and structural failures are the root cause, not U.S. sanctions. “The crisis in Cuba is a direct result of a broken, nonfunctional economy run by the same people for decades,” Rubio said in a statement on Thursday. He emphasized that Washington has not taken new punitive actions, but that the end of generous Venezuelan oil supplies and Havana’s own policies have exposed the system’s fragility.

Cuba, for its part, has long blamed the U.S. embargo for its economic woes, a narrative it has doubled down on in recent weeks. President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced emergency plans focusing on solar and other renewables for essential services, while acknowledging society must endure “restrictive” measures. The government has cut working hours, limited public transport, and encouraged households to use wood or coal for cooking.

Cuba’s Energy Crisis Deepens

The island continues to suffer rolling blackouts and strict fuel rationing. The economy, once buoyed by subsidized Venezuelan oil, now depends on expensive imported fuel and poorly maintained power plants. The Trump administration has tightened energy and financial restrictions, compounding Cuba’s weak export base and limited foreign-exchange earnings. Energy and transport disruptions are dragging down productivity and tourism, while food-distribution bottlenecks push prices higher.

“We are working around the clock to stabilize the grid, but the situation is dire,” said a Cuban official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Attempts to reach other government representatives for comment were unsuccessful.

Protests and Political Fallout

Ordinary Cubans face prolonged blackouts, bare grocery shelves, and limited transport, sparking protests in cities like Santiago and Havana. Professionals and state employees lose income as working hours are cut, while medicine shortages strain the healthcare system. Rubio has explicitly called for “new people in charge” and tied a revived offer of around $100 million in aid to political cooperation. The episode has polarized Cuban-American communities and international observers, with critics highlighting corruption and inefficiency while pro-regime voices emphasize the U.S. blockade.

Analysts are divided on the outlook. Some see a risk of deeper unrest and migration surges if deficits persist, while others expect the regime to endure with help from allies like Russia and China. For now, Cuba continues patchwork measures—more renewables, fuel-saving rules, and tighter import controls—while hoping for improved regional energy cooperation.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the amount of U.S. aid offered; it is approximately $100 million, not $1 billion.