Cuba’s Oil Runs Low Under US Blockade

Havana, Cuba —(Map)

Cuba is facing a serious oil shortage, and only has enough remaining oil to last for a few weeks. The crisis follows US moves to prevent the island nation from getting any more oil. Cuba is struggling to keep up with its energy needs, and the situation is getting worse quickly.

Cuba relies on oil for power. The country doesn’t have much solar power, and can only produce about 40% of the oil it needs. In the past, Venezuela and Mexico have provided much of the country’s oil supply. But now that has changed.

In early January, the US military, under orders from President Donald Trump, attacked Venezuela, and captured its president. Since then, the US has pressured Venezuela’s acting government to open its oil business to US companies. The US has also prevented Venezuela from selling oil to Cuba.

The US has a long history of trying to pressure Cuba. The main reason is that Cuba’s communist government has strong ties to US opponents like Russia and China. The US has had a trade embargo on Cuba since the 1960s. That means US businesses aren’t allowed to sell things to Cuba.

Mr. Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, have made it clear that they are hoping to remove Cuba’s current government.

The US has a long history of trying to pressure Cuba. Cuba’s communist government has strong ties to Russia and China. Mr. Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio (left), are hoping to remove Cuba’s current government. Above, the two are seen during a cabinet meeting on January 29.

In late January, Mr. Trump declared an “emergency” over Cuba. He said that Cuba was a threat to US security. Mr. Trump said he would use high tariffs to punish any country that sold oil to Cuba.

This put serious pressure on Mexico. Though Mexico has long had a strong relationship with Cuba, it canceled its next oil shipment to Cuba. But Mexico says it will continue to send other aid and supplies to Cuba.

The shortage is already causing serious problems in Cuba, which often has power outages that can last for 10 to 15 hours. Gasoline (petrol) has become much harder to find, and the lines at gas stations are long. Above, Cubans walk on a street during a blackout in Havana on January 25.

Cuba’s government says America’s actions are hurting its people. Only a single tanker of oil has reached Cuba so far this year. The country’s oil reserves are expected to run out in the next few weeks. The government says it may limit the sale of oil.

The shortage is already causing serious problems in Cuba, which often has power outages that can last for 10 to 15 hours. Gasoline (petrol) has become much harder to find, and the lines at gas stations are long.

The lack of oil also affects food and health. Without fuel, trucks can’t deliver food from farms to cities, and hospitals can’t get medical supplies. Some people worry that life in Cuba could soon become even more difficult. Above, a family cooking over a fire during a blackout in Havana on January 28.

The lack of oil also affects food and health for Cuba’s people. Without fuel, trucks can’t deliver food from farms to cities, and hospitals can’t get medical supplies. Some people worry that life in Cuba could soon become even more difficult.

Cuba’s oil crisis seems to confirm that, as in Venezuela, Mr. Trump’s government is willing to use US power to force changes in foreign countries. Mr. Trump has said that Cuba should “make a deal before it is too late.” Even so, it’s unclear what sort of deal Mr. Trump is expecting.

The situation has left many people in Cuba worried and uncertain. Mr. Trump says his government is talking with Cuba’s leaders, but Cuba says that so far, those talks haven’t shown much progress.