WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday labelled Cuba a “failed nation” and urged its leaders to strike a deal with Washington, even as severe fuel shortages and rolling blackouts batter the Caribbean island.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump reiterated his administration’s hardline stance but dismissed the idea of mounting a full-scale regime-change operation similar to recent US actions against Venezuela. “I don’t think that will be necessary,” he said when asked whether the United States planned to oust Cuba’s government.
Fuel Shortages, Blackouts, and Humanitarian Strain
Cuba is grappling with major fuel shortages that have disrupted electricity grids, impeded services, and prompted widespread power outages — a crisis that critics say has been worsened by intensified US pressure on Havana’s energy supply.
In recent weeks, the United States has tightened its decades-old embargo and targeted oil imports to Cuba, seeking to pressure the government. That has contributed to long waits for gasoline, restrictions on fuel access via a state-run app, and cascading impacts on transportation, hospitals, and everyday life across the island.
Trump Frames Crisis as “Humanitarian Threat”
“It’s a humanitarian threat,” Trump said of the fuel shortages, acknowledging the hardship facing ordinary Cubans even as he maintained the administration’s focus remains on securing a deal with Havana.
The White House has argued that cutting off fuel supplies is a lever to push Cuba toward concessions, while Havana blames external pressure and longstanding sanctions for its economic plight. UN experts and some international observers have raised an alarm over the growing humanitarian dimensions of the crisis.
The crisis comes amid a broader escalation in US-Latin America policy, including recent US military action in Venezuela that cut off a key source of discounted oil to Cuba. The resulting strain on Cuba’s energy infrastructure has deepened shortages and intensified debates in Washington over whether to pursue harder or more diplomatic approaches to the island’s government.
