President Trump tightens oil embargo and pushes Cuba toward economic collapse while millions face starvation and blackouts in Havana and across the island

The situation in Cuba has reached a critical point. The Caribbean island, once celebrated for its revolutionary ideals, is now facing severe shortages and extreme hardship.

Under President Trump’s tightening oil embargo, the economy teeters on the edge, with ordinary Cubans bearing the brunt of decades of communist mismanagement.

Power outages lasting up to 20 hours a day have become routine.

Without electricity, fans can’t cool homes in the tropical heat, water supplies are disrupted, and sanitation suffers.

Rubbish piles up on streets once bustling with cars, while mosquitoes and diseases spread rapidly.

Food scarcity is dire: seven out of ten Cubans go without a single meal on some days, and nine out of ten live in extreme poverty.

Babies are going without milk, and families struggle to meet even the most basic needs.

The Exodus of Cuba’s Best and Brightest

As conditions worsen, more than two million Cubans have fled the island in the past decade alone.

Most are young, educated, and ambitious — leaving behind a hollowed-out population.

With limited opportunities and no meaningful private sector, Cuba’s talent drain only compounds the economic collapse.

The historic Cuban dream of a socialist paradise has crumbled into widespread deprivation.

Oil Shortages Push Cuba to the Edge

Cuba’s dire straits are directly tied to its dependence on foreign oil.

The island needs roughly 100,000 barrels per day to keep even basic services running.

Previously, 40 percent came from Venezuela, but after Trump removed Nicolas Maduro, that supply vanished.

Mexico, once another major supplier, was pressured by the U.S. to cut exports, leaving Cuba with just 40,000 barrels per day from unreliable domestic sources.

Without sufficient oil, industry and households are faltering.

Factories shut, workers are laid off or put on drastically reduced hours, and wages are slashed.

Airlines have suspended flights to Havana due to lack of aviation fuel, devastating the tourism industry that once brought in vital revenue.

Inflation and Wage Squeeze

Cuba’s economy has shrunk by 15 percent since 2018, and cumulative inflation has soared to 450 percent.

For many, life has become almost unlivable.

One government worker earns 4,000 pesos a month — around £123 — while a litre of milk costs 1,600 pesos and a box of chicken drumsticks 2,000 pesos.

Her salary has now been cut further to 2,400 pesos, making even the most basic necessities unaffordable.

The communist utopia promised decades ago is now a stark economic reality.

The Long March of Cuban Communism

Cuba’s troubles are decades in the making.

After Fidel Castro’s revolution 67 years ago overthrew Batista’s dictatorship, the island was initially praised for its healthcare and education.

But the tight grip of one-party rule, extensive secret policing, and the suppression of civil society stifled progress.

Even as other communist states relaxed or reformed, Cuba remained rigid, with private enterprise minimal and the state omnipresent.

Despite hardship, public unrest has been rare.

Only two notable waves of protest occurred — in 1994 and 2021 — and both were easily suppressed.

This long period of quiescence has left the country without a ready opposition capable of stepping in as the regime falters.

Trump’s Strategy and Cuba’s Uncertain Future

President Trump sees an opportunity to reshape Cuba’s future.

By controlling oil supplies and maintaining economic pressure, his administration hopes to nudge the island toward reforms.

But the path is uncertain: the current president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is unpopular and under the shadow of 94-year-old Raul Castro, yet there is no clear replacement waiting in the wings.

Trump has suggested talks with the regime, hinting at potential market reforms and American investment in exchange for lifting the embargo.

Analysts speculate a “slow-motion regime change,” similar to the approach taken in Venezuela, could be on the horizon.

Cuba’s vast beachfront real estate and proximity to the U.S. make it a tantalizing prize for investors and policymakers alike.

Lessons from History

Cuba has long been a thorn in U.S. foreign policy, from the Bay of Pigs invasion to multiple CIA assassination plots against Castro and the terrifying Cuban missile crisis in 1962.

Many Americans, particularly Cuban exiles, would view the dismantling of the communist system as a historic victory.

For Trump, achieving what previous presidents could not would be a major political feather in his cap.

What’s Next?

In the short term, Cubans continue to face worsening conditions: food shortages, blackouts, and medical crises.

Politically, the U.S. may continue to leverage economic pressure to encourage reform, while the regime seeks ways to survive.

Any market-oriented concessions, foreign investment, or partial liberalization could signal the start of a slow transition.

How the island navigates this period will determine whether Cuba can emerge from decades of economic stagnation or descend further into collapse.

Summary

Cuba is facing its most severe crisis in decades, with widespread poverty, food shortages, and prolonged power cuts affecting millions.

President Trump’s oil embargo has exacerbated the collapse, depriving the country of foreign energy supplies.

The Cuban economy, shrunk by 15 percent since 2018 with inflation of 450 percent, is unable to sustain industry or basic services.

Decades of rigid communist rule have left Cuba without a viable opposition, and millions of young, educated Cubans have fled.

The U.S. may leverage economic and diplomatic pressure to encourage reforms, but the island’s future remains uncertain.