Cuba’s Diaz-Canel open to US aid amid worsening fuel crisis, blackouts
Summary
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Cuba would accept humanitarian aid from the United States if it follows international standards. However, he urged the US to lift its trade embargo instead, saying this would better help the Cuban people, who are suffering from fuel shortages and blackouts.Key Facts
- Cuba faces a severe fuel crisis causing long blackouts and shortages of food, medicine, and basic supplies.
- The US offered $100 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba, conditioned on Cuba implementing government reforms.
- Diaz-Canel described the US offer as contradictory given the ongoing US trade embargo against Cuba since the 1960s.
- The embargo tightened under President Donald Trump’s second term starting in 2025, including cutting fuel supplies and threatening tariffs on Cuba’s partners.
- The US government aims for political change in Cuba’s communist leadership and has pressured Diaz-Canel to resign.
- In response to the crisis, Cuba’s Energy Minister confirmed the island ran out of diesel and fuel oil.
- The US State Department said it is negotiating with Cuba privately about aid and reform.
- Cuba is only about 90 miles from the US, but the trade restrictions have deeply impacted the island’s economy and infrastructure.
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