After a new, nearly nationwide blackout in Cuba: time to concede?

The outage yesterday, Wednesday, shortly after noon, due to a breakdown, of one of the most critical thermoelectric plants within the Cuban national power system, caused a new massive, nearly nationwide blackout here. Since 2024, there have been five national blackouts and several partial ones of varying scope. Cuba's energy crisis, part of a much more comprehensive crisis that affects every element of society, has multiple explanations, including the lack of strategic internal planning and the effect of sweeping US sanctions, which have been applied with unusual force—since the first Trump administration—in the persecution of the oil sector. For example, since 2019, vessels and companies involved in crude oil shipments to Cuba have been designated by the U.S. Treasury Department.

Now, following the seizure of Nicolás Maduro last January 3, the obstacles have increased even more for Havana. The de facto Washington-ruled nation was its strategic source of crude, even though the volumes imported in recent years were significantly smaller in comparison with those during Hugo Chávez's rule. Also under pressure from the White House, which officially instituted a tariff threat against countries selling crude oil to Cuba, later overruled because of a Supreme Court's decision—, Claudia Sheinbaum halted shipments from Mexico, which, although not providing abundantly, had remained the only place where Cuban authorities bemoaned their troubles regarding oil matters. Since February last year, Moscow has not assisted the Island in this sense.

If there is something to, somehow, recognize in the Trump administration, it is the clarity with which, at times, it addresses certain issues. "Well, it's because of my intervention, intervention that is happening," said the Resolute Desk's owner this Friday about the impact of his policy on the Cuban crisis. "[It is obvious], otherwise they wouldn't have this problem. We cut off all oil, all money, … everything coming in from Venezuela, which was the sole source." Additionally, Trump again both predicted the fall of the Cuban communist political regime, and also claimed that they are talking with its political leadership, who supposedly—and this happens with all his enemies—"want to make a deal." For years, Cuba has resisted the U.S. policy of economic asphyxiation aimed at forcing its destiny. If we want to continue being a nation—and I am proud of that—, then that position must be defended. And yet, it does not prevent the emergence of an assertive policy that quickly fulfills certain demands for major changes, improving the Island's stance in the international political market.

A president or a clown?

Yesterday, Daniel Noboa, another of the quite obsequious Latin American presidents towards the United States, declared all Cuban diplomatic personnel deployed in Quito as persona non grata, simultaneously withdrawing his ambassador in Havana. So far, no argument has emerged, and all inferences revolve precisely around the probable US influence on the decision.

Venezuela

Everything is gonna be all right 👇?

This is all for today's report. Source for the image in the cover.