Havana’s streets had been eerily quiet on Monday (February 9, 2026) as emergency measures kicked in to preserve Cuba’s fast-dwindling gas shares below financial stress from U.S. President Donald Trump.
With oil provide in a U.S. stranglehold, the communist authorities has shuttered universities, decreased faculty hours and the work week, and slashed public transport because it restricted gas gross sales.
The few Cubans who had been out and about within the capital Monday (February 9, 2026) stated they had been apprehensive.
“One wonders how lengthy a rustic can reside below such situations,” nurse Rosa Ramos, 37, advised AFP, including the fuel-saving measures had been creating “loads of uncertainty.”
With public transport reduce, Ms. Ramos had been ready for over an hour for a taxi or bus to get to work.
Customers of personal taxis stated fares had shot up in a single day from about 200 pesos (40 U.S. cents) to 350 pesos.
The island of 9.6 million inhabitants, below a U.S. commerce embargo since 1962, has for years been mired in a extreme financial disaster marked by prolonged energy cuts and shortages of gas, drugs and meals.
It has now additionally been lower off from crucial oil provides from Venezuela — whose chief Nicolas Maduro was toppled in a lethal US army strike final month — and from Mexico below the specter of U.S. tariffs.
Mr. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on any nation that gives oil to the island nation he has stated is “able to fall.”
The ensuing shortages have threatened to plunge Cuba into full darkness, with energy vegetation struggling to maintain the lights on.
No overseas gas or oil tanker has arrived in Cuba in weeks, specialists in maritime transport monitoring advised AFP.
And on Sunday (February 8, 2026), it was introduced that long-haul flights won’t be able to refuel on the island for a minimum of a month.
‘Merciless aggression’
Mr. Trump and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio have made no secret of their need to result in regime change in Havana.
Overseas Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Monday (February 9, 2026) denounced the “merciless aggression” of the US, which he stated was aimed toward “breaking the political will of the Cuban individuals.”
“The scenario is hard and can demand nice sacrifice,” stated Mr. Rodriguez, reiterating Cuba’s “willingness to interact in dialogue,” although by itself phrases.
On Sunday (February 8, 2026), Deputy Prime Minster Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga introduced a set of emergency measures to ration no matter gas is left to “shield important companies for the inhabitants and indispensable financial actions.”
He stated these included meals and electrical energy manufacturing and “basic actions that generate overseas forex.”
Interprovincial bus and prepare companies had been decreased, college courses moved from in-person to on-line, and a number of other lodges closed.
Air Canada stated Monday (February 9, 2026) it was suspending flights to Cuba because of the gas scarcity. Within the coming days, it would fly empty planes to select up about 3,000 clients in Cuba and convey them house.
The President of Mexico, which was once Cuba’s second-biggest oil supplier after Venezuela, stated Monday (February 9, 2026) that sanctions that hurt the individuals of Cuba had been “not proper.”
“We’ll proceed supporting them and taking all mandatory diplomatic actions to revive oil shipments” to Cuba, Claudia Sheinbaum advised reporters.
“You can’t strangle a individuals like this — it is very unfair, very unfair.”
Ms. Sheinbaum had beforehand warned of a humanitarian disaster in Cuba, however is eager to keep away from placing her personal nation prone to tariffs from the US, Mexico’s fundamental buying and selling associate.
Mexico is in search of an settlement with Washington that may enable it to renew oil exports to Havana. On Sunday (February 8, 2026), it despatched two ships with over 800 tons humanitarian help.
The Kremlin, too, accused Washington on Monday (February 9, 2026) of utilizing “suffocating measures” in opposition to Cuba.
“We’re discussing potential options with our Cuban associates, a minimum of to offer no matter help we will,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov advised reporters.
Printed – February 10, 2026 11:35 am IST