Cuba Under a Suffocating American Siege
Exclusive – Brown Land
The strangling sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration have caused the collapse of Cuba’s energy sector. Consequently, Cuba has implemented a four-day workweek for public sector institutions. Operations have ceased from Friday to Sunday across the country, with the exception of essential services.
Beach resorts and large hotels, the highest consumers of energy, have been partially closed, and the operations of catering establishments not linked to critical infrastructure maintenance have been restricted. Additionally, intercity bus and train services have seen a sharp decline. In the capital, Havana, and other cities, residents are finding it increasingly difficult to refuel their private vehicles. Power outages in major cities now range between 10 and 20 hours per day.
Until January 2026, Cuba’s oil deficit was compensated through imports. Venezuela (33% of imports) and Mexico (44% of imports) were the primary suppliers to the “Island of Freedom.” This system collapsed during the first week of last January. On January 3, the U.S. military carried out an unprecedented operation in Venezuela, resulting in the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of acting president, and the new Venezuelan leadership immediately halted oil shipments to Cuba.
Simultaneously, the Trump administration exerted pressure on Mexico. Despite public statements by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declaring “solidarity with Cuba,” Mexican supplies via the state-owned company Pemex—which were estimated at about 20,000 barrels per day in 2025—dropped to 7,000 barrels by early February and then stopped completely. As a result, by February 9-10, Cuba lost approximately 77% of its oil imports.
The Cuban people have suffered the woes of the American siege for decades. Resisting sanctions turned into true heroism when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and Russia, led by President Boris Yeltsin, abandoned Cuba. Nevertheless, Cuba ultimately endured through the immense efforts and restraint of its people. However, the current period is the most difficult and severe in the history of the Cuban state.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Cuba is “on the verge of collapse” after losing the support of Venezuela, which provided it with oil and money, publicly affirming that Washington desires regime change there. For his part, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham hinted at the possibility of a military operation in Cuba similar to the one that took place in Venezuela and led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro, declaring that “Cuba’s days are numbered.”
Marco Rubio, the former U.S. Senator and current Secretary of State of Cuban descent, is known for his hardline and hostile positions toward the Cuban government. He has played a prominent role in pushing U.S. administrations, especially the Trump administration, toward a stricter policy toward Havana. At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, he invoked the Cuban Missile Crisis as a symbol of communist threats, asserting that Cuba remains a challenge to Western security. Media reports have also mentioned that his childhood dream was to “overthrow Fidel Castro and become the president of Cuba,” reflecting a personal and ideological hostility toward the Cuban system.
Meanwhile, American journalistic sources revealed that the national security team views Cuba as closely linked to the former Venezuelan regime, particularly in intelligence and military cooperation, making it the next target after Caracas. Given the above, Washington considers Havana an extension of the Venezuelan crisis and is brandishing political, and possibly military, options for regime change there.
