Why Cuba is under siege: US blockade and economic collapse
Cuba is facing a severe humanitarian and economic crisis, with nationwide blackouts, water shortages, food scarcity, and a collapse in tourism. The average monthly wage is under US$20, and child mortality has risen sharply. The main cause of the current trouble is a US oil blockade that began in January 2026, the largest such action since the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Trump administration designated Cuba a national security threat, citing alliances with Russia and China. Venezuela, Cuba's main oil supplier, cut off shipments after the US seized President Maduro. The US is reportedly seeking regime change by the end of 2026. Cuba has announced 176 free-market reforms to placate the US, but a political settlement faces obstacles, including a US law barring recognition of any Cuban government including Raúl Castro.
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