Photo: YAMIL LAGE / AFP / Getty Images
Cuba is facing severe fuel shortages as a U.S. oil blockade has left the island nation without crude oil and diesel. On Wednesday (May 13), Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy announced that the country has run out of these essential fuels, putting the national grid in a "critical state" and triggering widespread blackouts. The U.S. has been blocking fuel shipments to Cuba since it invaded Venezuela in January, cutting off Cuba's primary oil supply.
The situation has led to significant disruptions, with hospitals unable to function normally and schools and government offices forced to close, according to a report by BBC. Protests erupted in Havana on Wednesday evening, with hundreds of residents taking to the streets, blocking roads with garbage, and demanding the restoration of electricity, as reported by Reuters.
In response to the crisis, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana on Thursday (May 14) as part of a U.S. delegation. The visit aimed to discuss potential economic and security cooperation with Cuban officials. The U.S. has offered $100 million in aid to Cuba, contingent on "meaningful reforms" by the Cuban government, according to a CNBC report.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has criticized the U.S. blockade, describing it as a "genocidal energy blockade." He emphasized that lifting the blockade would be a more effective solution than the proposed aid. The U.S. State Department insists that any aid must be distributed through independent humanitarian organizations, bypassing the Cuban government.
As tensions continue, the Cuban government remains open to discussions about the U.S. aid proposal. However, the energy crisis persists, with no immediate resolution in sight.