“We’re tired of so many days of blackouts. Three days in a row of the same,” said Edward Rafael, an 18‑year‑old participating in a protest in Havana.
For Cubans this statement captures the atmosphere across much of the island as the country experiences one of its most severe economic and infrastructure crises in decades. Between January and March 2026, Cuba entered a period of escalating instability marked by widespread electricity failures, growing public protests, and increased geopolitical pressure from the United States. The combination of a weak energy system and dependence on imported fuel has made daily life much harder for ordinary citizens.
These hardships are the direct consequences of the renewed United States sanctions and policy actions implemented in early 2026. On January 29, 2026, the U.S. President issued an Executive Order, addressing threats to the U.S. by the Government of Cuba, which entered into force the following day. The order declared that the policies and actions of the Cuban government constituted an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy. To counter this perceived threat, the order authorized tariffs on imports from any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba, effectively discouraging foreign fuel shipments and targeting the island’s energy lifeline.
The order cited multiple allegations against the Cuban government, including cooperation or alignment with Russia, China, and Iran, as well as engagement with armed groups marked as terrorist organizations by Washington, including Hamas and Hezbollah. According to the White House, these measures were necessary to prevent Cuba from sustaining policies and practices that threaten U.S. interests and to discourage third countries from supplying the fuel that powers Cuba’s electricity generation, public transportation, and essential services. The Cuban government rejected the allegations, arguing that the executive order contained “lies and defamatory accusations” and that declaring Cuba a threat “constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.
Along with the suspension of Venezuelan oil deliveries, which once supplied most of Cuba’s fuel, these actions have left the country with significantly less energy to run electricity, public transportation, food distribution, and water systems. Cuban officials have repeatedly described the restrictions as an energy blockade that prevents the country from purchasing fuel on the international market. President Miguel Díaz Canel said that no petroleum shipments have arrived in Cuba in the past three months because of the sanctions that have deepened an already fragile economic situation and contributed directly to the electricity shortages affecting the population.
Large parts of the island have experienced blackouts lasting many hours at a time. On March 4, a failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in Matanzas shut down due to a boiler failure and triggered a nationwide outage that left millions without electricity across western and central provinces, including Havana. The shutdown affected areas from Pinar del Río to Las Tunas and interrupted radio and television transmissions as the national electrical system collapsed.
Power shortages quickly made everyday life harder. Without steady electricity, refrigeration failures disrupted food storage, public transport services were reduced due to fuel scarcity, and internet service became unstable in many areas. Cuban authorities implemented rationing measures and reduced nonessential services such as street and public lighting, cultural centers, recreational facilities, some public transport routes, and nonessential TV and radio programming, to preserve the limited fuel supplies. Many government offices and administrative services shortened hours or temporarily closed to save electricity.
Public frustration over blackouts and shortages has increasingly turned into open protests. On14 March, demonstrators in the town of Morón in Ciego de Ávila province gathered outside a local Communist Party office to protest blackouts and shortages. The demonstration then escalated into vandalism, including the burning of furniture outside the building, and authorities reported at least five arrests.
Nighttime protests have also been held in parts of Havana, where residents engaged in traditional cacerolazo demonstrations, banging pots and pans to express anger at the electricity crisis and worsening economic hardship. On March 9, a group of students staged a rare demonstration at the University of Havana to protest the disruption of classes caused by electricity shortages and unreliable internet access. The protest involved a sit in outside university buildings and demands for solutions to the crisis.
At the center of Cuba’s current crisis is a deteriorating electrical system that depends heavily on aging thermoelectric plants and imported fuel. However, several power units are currently out of service because of mechanical breakdowns or maintenance problems. At the same time, the island faces chronic shortages of spare parts and investment capital needed to modernize infrastructure.
The crisis in Cuba also carries broader implications for Latin America. Cuba maintains a close political and economic relationship with Venezuela, another country facing significant international sanctions and economic instability. Venezuelan oil shipments have historically provided a crucial energy lifeline to the Cuban economy. Any disruption in that flow of fuel immediately weakens Cuba’s ability to produce electricity and keep essential services running.
These problems have only gotten worse because of fuel shortages. With Cuba relying heavily on imported oil, particularly from Venezuela, the sharp decline in shipments has caused a significant drop in available power. By early March 2026, the situation has become even more critical. Cuba’s Electric Union said on March 7 that the country had only about 1,000 megawatts of electricity available, barely half of what the island currently needs to meet demand.
The current crisis cannot be understood without the broader historical relationship between the U.S. and Cuba. Since the Cuban Revolution in 1959, relations between Washington and Havana have been defined by political confrontation and economic sanctions. The U.S. imposed a comprehensive embargo on Cuba during the Cold War after the revolutionary government led by Fidel Castro aligned itself with the Soviet Union.
Although diplomatic relations were partially restored during the Obama administration in 2015, many sanctions were later reimposed or tightened in later years. Today the Cuban government remains one of the few openly socialist political systems in the Western region. As a result, U.S. policy toward the island often reflects a broader ideological contest that dates back to the Cold War. In strategic terms, the current pressure from the U.S. can be seen as part of a long-standing effort to push for political change in Havana while limiting the influence of governments that challenge U.S. leadership in the region.
Domestic U.S. politics also plays a significant role in shaping policy toward Cuba. The Cuban American exile community, particularly in Florida, has historically advocated a strict approach toward the Cuban government. Many members of this community left the island after the revolution and remain strongly opposed to the Cuban Communist Party.
Prominent political figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have been vocal supporters of maintaining strong sanctions and political pressure against Havana. Rubio has repeatedly argued that sanctions are necessary to push for democratic reforms and human rights improvements in Cuba. Cuban-American exile networks have also maintained influence in U.S. policy circles since the 1970s, particularly within Congress and foreign policy institutions that oversee Western region affairs.
In current times, its aging power system and reliance on imported fuel make the country vulnerable, and even small problems can cause major outages. U.S. sanctions and regional tensions continue to limit Cuba’s economic options. Although the government still holds tight control, growing frustration over daily hardships shows that the humanitarian situation will play a major role in the country’s stability in the weeks ahead.
Verification Note: The information in this report has been compiled from multiple credible sources and cross-checked for consistency. Data and reports have been used to corroborate events where possible. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, access limitations may prevent independent verification of all details.
Afiya Ibnath Ayshi is a Security and Strategic Reporting Fellow at Bangladesh Defence Journal. She covers defence, foreign affairs, and humanitarian issues, focusing on how regional and global developments influence Bangladesh’s security and diplomacy. A graduate in English from the University of Dhaka, she brings a research-based and balanced approach to her work.