Cuba, Under US Pressure, Faces Total Blackout

Havana, Cuba —(Map)

On Monday, all of Cuba lost power. It’s not clear what caused the blackout, but it comes at a very difficult time. Cuba is having serious problems getting fuel, and its people are upset and protesting. The country is under great pressure from the US, with US President Donald Trump threatening to “take” it.

Cuba is an island country of about 11 million people located in the Caribbean. The US has a long history of trying to pressure Cuba, mainly because 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.

Cuba relies on oil for power, but it can only produce about 40% of the oil it needs. In the past, Venezuela and Mexico provided much of the country’s oil supply.

On Monday, all of Cuba lost power. It’s not clear what caused the blackout, but it comes at a very difficult time. Cuba is having serious problems getting fuel, and it’s under great pressure from the US. Above, a view of the capital, Havana, during the blackout on March 16.

But in early January, the US military, under orders from Mr. Trump, attacked Venezuela, and captured its president. Since then, the US has used threats of tariffs to prevent any country from selling oil to Cuba.

Last Friday, Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, said that the country had not gotten any oil in three months.

Without oil, Cuba has had more and more blackouts. Because there isn’t enough gas or diesel fuel, garbage is piling up on the streets of Cuba. The government has had to make cuts, including limiting school hours, public transportation, and even some hospital services.

Without oil, Cuba has had more and more blackouts. Because there isn’t enough gas or diesel fuel, garbage is piling up on the streets of Cuba. The government has had to make cuts. Above, garbage on a street of Havana on Monday.

Monday’s blackout affected the whole island. The government said it was trying to figure out what had caused the blackout. By Tuesday, some areas had power restored, but many areas still had no electricity.

The blackouts and poor conditions have upset many people in Cuba. Protests have broken out in several places around the country. Such protests are very unusual in Cuba.

Since January, Mr. Trump and his government have been putting intense pressure on Cuba. Mr. Trump and his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, have made it clear that they would like to remove Cuba’s current government.

Mr. Trump, who has already attacked Venezuela and Iran so far this year, has suggested that Cuba could be next.

Since January, Mr. Trump and his government have been putting intense pressure on Cuba. On Monday, Mr. Trump said that “taking Cuba” would be a “big honor”. Above, Mr. Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, during a meeting in the White House yesterday.

The pressure has led Cuba to secretly begin talks with the US. Cuba has now made some moves designed to please the US, including releasing some prisoners. Cuba’s government has also announced that people who have left Cuba in the past are welcome to come back and put money into Cuban businesses.

But the pressure on Cuba continues. On Monday, Mr. Trump said that “taking Cuba” would be a “big honor”. He didn’t offer details, but he said of Cuba: “I think I can do anything I want with it.”

The New York Times reports that the US may be demanding that Mr. Díaz-Canel step down as president. The newspaper says that some people involved in the US-Cuba talks claim that this is the US position.

Without any oil from outside, Cuba will likely face more blackouts – and a more and more difficult future.