Wyoming Criticizes US Blockade of Cuba & Its Impact on Citizens
Cuba’s major airports have largely ceased operations as a critical fuel shortage grips the island nation, a direct consequence of the Trump administration’s escalating pressure on Havana and its oil supply lines. The crisis, which began to manifest in December with the cessation of oil shipments, has now grounded flights from major airlines, including Air Canada, which has resorted to sending empty planes to retrieve stranded vacationers.
The current situation represents a significant tightening of the decades-long U.S. Embargo against Cuba. While a longstanding embargo has been in place, the Trump administration has specifically targeted Cuba’s access to fuel, initially by disrupting oil shipments from Venezuela following the U.S.-backed ouster of President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. According to reports, U.S. Forces seized tankers in an effort to control Venezuela’s oil production and distribution Wyoming Truth.
With Venezuelan oil supplies cut off, Mexico stepped in as Cuba’s primary oil provider. Though, President Trump then implicitly threatened Mexico with tariffs should it continue supplying fuel to Havana, a move that appears to have effectively halted those shipments as well. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that Cuba has not received an oil shipment since December, describing the situation as a deliberate attempt to cripple the nation’s infrastructure and basic services Wyoming Public Media.
The impact extends far beyond air travel. Cuban authorities have implemented limited schedules for government buildings, banks and public transportation in an attempt to conserve dwindling fuel reserves. Díaz-Canel warned that the fuel shortage threatens food production, public transport, hospitals, and schools. The situation is particularly dire given that, according to UNICEF data cited in Spanish media, nearly 89% of the Cuban population lives in extreme poverty, and 10% of children suffer from malnutrition.
The Trump administration’s actions follow a pattern of escalating pressure on Cuba, framed as an effort to destabilize the Cuban government. In January, Representative Carlos Gimenez highlighted Mexico’s increased oil shipments to Cuba, suggesting that such support would be considered during future negotiations with Mexico Wyoming Public Media. This rhetoric echoes earlier warnings from Trump himself, who stated on social media that Cuba should “make a deal” before it’s too late.
The situation has also drawn criticism from within the United States. The platform Let Cuba Live, featuring prominent figures like Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon, is planning mass mobilizations to protest what they describe as the Trump administration’s deliberate infliction of suffering on the Cuban people.
Russia has signaled its continued support for Cuba, with its interior minister beginning a visit to Havana in late January, a move widely interpreted as a demonstration of solidarity in the face of U.S. Pressure Wyoming News. The long-term implications of the fuel shortage, and the potential for further escalation, remain uncertain as the Trump administration continues to pursue its policy of maximum pressure on Havana.