{"id":824,"date":"2026-05-17T04:08:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T04:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=824"},"modified":"2026-05-17T04:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T04:08:04","slug":"cuba-faces-an-energy-crisis-as-the-u-s-continues-to-block-oil-shipments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tampamovingjournal.com\/?p=824","title":{"rendered":"Cuba faces an energy crisis as the U. S. continues to block oil shipments"},"content":{"rendered":"

What we know:<\/p>

TAMPA, Fla<\/strong> – <\/span>Cuba\u2019s economy is crippled, and its infrastructure has been crumbling. The nation produces less than half the oil it needs and has officially run out of its reserves.<\/p>

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As a result, Cubans are facing widespread power outages. What little fuel the country produces internally is being diverted to hospitals and other critical needs. For the public, electricity may only be available for 30 to 90 minutes per day. During these brief windows, residents rush to cook and complete chores. Otherwise, they cook with charcoal or wood and sleep outside at night in response to the heat.<\/p>

A history of conflict\u00a0<\/h2>

The backstory:<\/p>

Cuba\u2019s energy grid has been failing for years, a problem masked heavily by its reliance on oil from Venezuela. Following the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, the Trump administration asserted control of the Venezuelan oil industry, cutting off shipments to Cuba. The U.S. then proceeded to block most other foreign oil shipments from entering the island nation.<\/p>

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The goal of this severe restriction is to force the Cuban regime to step aside or substantially reform. Additionally, the U.S. is demanding that Cuba dismantle Chinese and Russian spy technology currently operating within its borders.\u00a0<\/p>

The view from Washington\u00a0<\/h2>

What they’re saying:<\/p>

U.S. officials are making it clear that they do not see a path forward under the current Cuban leadership.<\/p>

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated: “It’s a broken, non-functional economy, and it’s impossible to change it. I wish it were different…. You cannot change the economic trajectory of Cuba as long as the people who are in charge of it, now, are in charge of it.”<\/i><\/p>

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President Donald Trump previously said that Venezuela was just the first step, signaling that Cuba would be next: “Taking Cuba, I mean, whether I free it, take it, I think I could do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth… I do believe I’ll have the honor of having the honor of taking Cuba. That’d be good. That’s a big honor.”<\/i><\/p>

By the numbers:<\/p>