Cuba Strangled by Trump's Oil Supply Cuts, Flights Canceled

Cuba is already beginning to enter a major shutdown across sectors after US President Donald Trump cut off a large portion of the island's oil supply, forcing airlines to reroute and strangling Cuba's economy.

Just one month ago, Cuba was receiving oil from suppliers as usual– Venezuela is Cuba's largest supplier of crude oil, providing around 61% of their total. Next is Mexico, which supplies around 25%, along with Russia and Algeria at 10% and 4%.

However, Trump had sharply criticized Cuba's communist government, labeling it a national security threat that supported terrorism and generated regional instability. Cuba also supported former dictator Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela, forming a strong bilateral relationship.

Nevertheless, in early January, the CIA captured Maduro from his home, collapsing Venezuela's authoritarian government. The US quickly took control of the Venezuelan government, particularly its oil supplies, and moved to cut off all exports to Cuba.

Then, on January 29, Trump signed an executive order placing tariffs on any nation that supplied Cuba with oil, specifically targeting Mexico with the order. With 61% of Cuba's supply gone, Mexico's decision to halt oil shipments to the island nation last week have already proved to be crippling. According to the Trump administration, the cuts are all part of a plan to choke off Cuba's communist government, forcing its downfall.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum maintained, though, that Mexico will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Cuba amid this major crisis, and they could serve as an intermediary between the US and the Cuban government if need be.

However, with almost no oil left, Cuba is already beginning to systematically shut down, with widespread power outages and zero fuel for airplanes and cars. Locals have stated that food and clean water are also becoming scarce across the island as electrical outages persist, with many people receiving a maximum of 30 minutes of power a day, if not less.

Havana's José Martí International Airport has confirmed that they are almost out of jet fuel, forcing Canadian airlines like Air Canada, WestJet, and Air Transat to halt flights to the island. Amid the crisis, Canada is ferrying Canadian tourists off the island as well. American carriers like American and Delta are continuing operations, primarily to get any tourists or foreign nationals out of Cuba, but they are carrying extra fuel for return trips.

The Trump administration stated yesterday that they have begun talks with the Cuban government, but made no specifications as to what sort of matters they are discussing. Cuban officials argued that they have not begun negotiations, but instead are open to dialogue.

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Image credit to Reuters