Cuba has begun implementing strict and emergency measures to rationalize energy consumption in order to confront the "choke" imposed by the United States following its intervention in Venezuela, the island's main fuel supplier. This crisis is considered the worst in Cuba's modern history, and has had a negative impact on the lives of citizens and the economy, especially in Havana.

Published on: 02/10/2026 - 13:00

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In the streets of the Cuban capital, Havana, traffic has decreased significantly compared to the past days and months, according to Agence France-Presse. For example, in the central Vedado neighborhood, the sidewalks that are usually crowded with people busy completing their administrative transactions seemed almost empty.

“Resilience measures so that the country does not collapse”

Rosa Ramos, a 37-year-old nurse, has been waiting for more than an hour in the street looking for transportation to enable her to get to her work at a hospital located about ten kilometers away. She says, “The measures announced by the government, which include adopting a four-day work week to rationalize the use of electricity, remote work, and legalizing the sale of fuel to individuals, are “steadfastness measures so that the country does not collapse.” But at the same time, they “create a great state of uncertainty among the population.” She added sadly, “Everyone is wondering: How long can a country live in such conditions?”

Since the beginning of the week, private taxi users have noticed an increase in trip prices, rising on some routes from 200 pesos (about 40 US cents) to 350 pesos.

American pressure and Mexican aid

The communist island, with a population of about 9.6 million people, finds itself in an extremely fragile situation after the cessation of oil supplies coming from Venezuela under American pressure, in addition to Washington’s threats to impose customs duties on countries that sell oil to Cuba.

Due to pressure from the US administration, Mexico, Cuba's second-largest supplier, temporarily suspended its shipments and is currently negotiating with Washington on how to send oil to Havana without being subjected to retaliatory measures from its main trading partner.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum considered the American threat to impose customs duties “extremely unfair,” saying: “A people cannot be strangled in this way.” Last weekend, Mexico announced the sending of more than 814 tons of food to Cuba on two ships belonging to the National Navy.

Read also: Cuba is suffocating due to the American blockade... Paralysis at airports due to running out of fuel

In turn, Moscow denounced the "suffocating methods" adopted by the United States, which "cause great suffering to the country." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "The situation in Cuba is already critical," noting that Russia is holding talks with the Cuban authorities to provide assistance.

For his part, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that Washington's goal "is to break the political will of the Cuban people," adding: "The situation is difficult and will require great sacrifices."

Suspension of supplying aircraft with kerosene

Among the indicators warning of the seriousness of the crisis, the Cuban authorities informed airlines operating flights to the country that supplying kerosene to aircraft would be suspended for a month, starting at midnight on Monday. This decision forces airlines operating long-haul flights to make technical stops to refuel at other airports.

As a result, Air Canada announced the suspension of its flights to Cuba and stated in a statement that aviation fuel will not be available for commercial purposes at airports as of Tuesday, after governments issued warning notices of a possible disruption in supplies. An aviation notice published late Sunday indicated that the shortfall would last from February 10 until March 11.

Extensive austerity measures

In a related context, the government announced the closure of some hotels with low occupancy rates, and the grouping of tourists in other facilities. A worker in the tourism sector, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed that “hotels are currently closing in Varadero,” Cuba’s most prominent tourist resort, “and in other provinces.”

Bus and train services between the regions were also reduced, in addition to reducing school days. Universities are currently operating remotely or in a partial attendance system, as was the case during the Covid-19 pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga said that these measures aim to provide fuel to support food production and electricity generation, and to maintain basic activities that generate hard currency, most notably the tobacco sector.

The return of the specter of the "Special Period"

These measures are not without similarities to those imposed during the “Special Period,” the severe economic crisis that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite the suffering of the Cuban people, the Nicaraguan government decided to stop the entry of Cubans there without a visa, after American pressure related to the immigration file.

The question remains: Will these continuing pressures lead to the weakening of the Cuban communist regime, or will it be a temporary crisis added to the series of crises that the island has experienced since 1959?

France 24/AFP

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