US President Donald Trump has cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba, and threatened to impose tariffs on any country that supplies oil to this country.
Cuba warns that international airlines may no longer be able to refuel in Cuba due to fuel shortages.
In the context of the fuel crisis, the Cuban government has implemented norm-based distribution measures to protect essential services and prioritize fuel for key sectors.
The plan includes limiting fuel sales, closing some tourist facilities, shortening school hours and reducing working weeks at state-owned enterprises to 4 days, from Monday to Thursday.
Professor of Latin American Studies at the University of Nottingham, Mr. Par Kumaraswami, commented: "The current situation in Cuba is as serious as the 1990s, when the country had to survive without support from the Eastern European bloc.
According to Mr. Kumaraswami, Mr. Trump's tax threat has a deterrent effect on many countries. Mexico has sent humanitarian aid but temporarily suspended oil exports to Cuba, in order to maintain relations with Havana and avoid the risk of being taxed by Washington.
Mr. Kumaraswami pointed out that, despite facing difficulties in daily life, many Cubans are still determined to protect national sovereignty and a new wave of patriotism is taking shape.
Air Canada has canceled all flights to Cuba due to fuel shortages. However, the airline said it will bring about 3,000 Canadian passengers in Cuba back home in the next few days.
According to Mr. Robert Munks - head of the Americas research department of risk analysis firm Verisk Maplecroft - unlike previous crises, Cuba currently lacks foreign partners capable of intervention and support. He pointed out that the US has also restricted Cuba's access to foreign currency and put pressure on Nicaragua to end its visa-free policy for Cuban citizens.
Reduced oil supplies to Cuba have prompted the United Nations to warn of the risk of a humanitarian crisis. United Nations spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said, "The Secretary-General is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, which will worsen, and may even collapse, if oil demand is not met.
According to Helen Yaffe, a Cuba expert and professor of Latin American political economics at the University of Glasgow, Cuba's emergency measures are an important test for the BRICS bloc. "This is probably the most important test for BRICS today," she said.
Cuba became a BRICS partner from January 2025, thereby strengthening relations with countries such as Brazil, Russia and China. These three countries have recently signaled their willingness to support Havana.
This week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson declared that Beijing "resolutely opposes inhumane actions that deprive the Cuban people of their right to life and development", and affirmed that China will continue to provide support as before.
Russia described Cuba's fuel situation as "really serious" and said that US efforts to increase pressure are causing many consequences.
As a historian, I am cautious when predicting the future. But looking at the trend, I can say that we witnessed this in the early 1990s, when many people thought Cuba could not overcome it, but they did" - Helen Yaffe said.
