Trump escalates pressure on Cuba: threats and a crippling oil embargo
Former US President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Havana, declaring that "Cuba is next," a statement reflecting his administration's intensified pressure campaign against the island . This threat comes amid a months-long US oil embargo that has exacerbated the economic crisis and choked off fuel supplies, placing the Cuban economy, already weakened by decades of trade sanctions, under unprecedented strain.
The roots of the tension and the policy of strict sanctions
US-Cuban relations have been strained since the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Washington imposed a comprehensive trade embargo on Cuba in 1962, a blockade that remains in place today and is the longest-running economic embargo in modern history. Despite a period of relative improvement under the Obama administration, culminating in the restoration of diplomatic relations in 2015, the arrival of Trump in the White House effectively reset the situation. His administration reversed many of Obama's policies, reimposed strict restrictions on travel and trade, and targeted vital sectors of the Cuban economy, particularly tourism and energy.
The tightening of sanctions against Cuba was closely linked to its support for Nicolás Maduro's government in Venezuela. The Trump administration consistently labeled Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua a "troika of tyranny," arguing that Cuban support was the lifeline keeping the Maduro regime in power. From this perspective, the oil embargo aimed not only to punish Havana but also to cut off logistical and intelligence support to Caracas, in an attempt to effect political change in both countries.
The repercussions of pressure on Cuba on the ground
The US pressure campaign has had a direct and painful impact on the lives of Cuban citizens. Fuel shortages have paralyzed public and private transportation, caused prolonged power outages, and negatively affected agricultural and industrial production. The food and medicine shortages have worsened, exacerbating the suffering of a population already enduring a severe economic crisis for decades. International organizations have warned that these sanctions amount to collective punishment and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable segments of Cuban society.
In response to this escalation, the Cuban government has repeatedly affirmed its resilience. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel declared that any external aggressor would face “unstoppable resistance,” a clear message to Washington. While Cuban officials have expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, they simultaneously maintain that regime change in the country is “non-negotiable,” emphasizing Cuba’s right to self-determination without foreign interference.
Trump’s remarks, made during an investment forum in Miami, did not specify the nature of the next steps Washington intended to take, but they left the door open to further punitive measures that could increase Cuba’s isolation and deepen its humanitarian crisis, putting the future of relations between the two countries in a state of uncertainty.
