Protesters attack Communist Party office in Cuba amid energy crisis and US talks

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What's Happening

On March 14, protesters attacked a Communist Party office in Moron, Cuba, leading to arrests and reports of gunfire. This violence occurs as President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed the initiation of conversations with the United States to address bilateral tensions. The country faces a severe energy crisis, with a massive blackout earlier in March and the UN warning of a worsening humanitarian situation due to fuel shortages.

How We Got Here

The current situation in Cuba has its origins in a US military operation on January 3, 2026, that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This event immediately deprived Cuba of its main oil supplier, Venezuela, which had come under US influence, triggering a significant economic blow for the island nation. The loss of Venezuelan oil, long provided under favorable terms, plunged Cuba into an acute energy shortage, exacerbating existing economic difficulties and setting the stage for a broader crisis. Within days, President Donald Trump urged the government in Caracas to break its alliance with Cuba, further isolating Havana from a key regional partner. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that his government was willing to talk with the United States, but only under conditions of equality and respect for sovereignty, independence, and self-determination. Meanwhile, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter, the Trump administration was seeking Cuban government insiders to facilitate a change of government in Cuba by the end of 2026. President Trump asserted that Cuba would be failing soon, noting that Venezuela had not recently sent oil or money, framing the island's predicament as imminent collapse. On January 29, the Trump administration issued an executive order designating Cuba as a threat to US national security, citing its hosting of Russian signals-intelligence facilities and alleged provision of safe harbor to groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. The same order introduced tariffs on any country that supplied oil to Cuba, aiming to tighten the economic stranglehold. This declaration of a national emergency marked a sharp escalation in US policy, institutionalizing a hardline approach that sought to pressure Cuba through energy deprivation and diplomatic isolation. In early February, the Cuban foreign ministry, according to El País, made an offer to align with the Donroe Doctrine, though details of this overture were not fully disclosed. The United Nations warned that if Cuba’s energy needs were not met, it could cause a humanitarian crisis. Responding to the deepening shortage, the Cuban government announced it was willing to negotiate and, for the first time in almost 70 years, authorized the import of fuel through private channels, relaxing internal measures in a bid to secure essential supplies. Supply difficulties quickly manifested, with Air France planes making technical stops in the Bahamas to refuel due to Cuban kerosene shortages. The Russian government recommended that tour operators stop selling trips to Cuba, after which Canadian and Russian airlines suspended all air connections with the island. Shipping agencies like Cubamax suspended home deliveries and limited shipments to one package per client because of fuel shortages, highlighting the spreading impact on everyday life and commerce. A UN expert panel condemned the US directive on Cuba as illegal, stating that the US claim that Havana funds terrorism lacks credibility and appears designed to justify coercive powers, while the US maintained its position. US forces began intercepting vessels en route to Cuba as part of a broader isolation strategy, though no legal authority for such action was articulated. Meanwhile, solidarity efforts emerged, such as a collection drive for Cuba in Mexico City's Zocalo organized by the Association of Cubans Residing in Mexico. The US Supreme Court ruled on February 20 that Washington could not impose tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba, limiting one potential tool for pressure. This legal setback for the administration came just days before a pivotal shift. On February 25, the US Department of the Treasury authorized companies to resell Venezuelan oil to Cuba for commercial and humanitarian purposes, with conditions that it not go to entities associated with the Cuban military, intelligence, or government institutions. This turning point eased restrictions, allowing oil shipments to private companies in Cuba but not the government or military. That same day, Cuban forces killed four exiles and wounded six others who sailed into Cuban waters aboard a Florida-registered speedboat and opened fire on a patrol, underscoring ongoing tensions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the status quo in Cuba was unsustainable and that the country needed to change dramatically. The UN coordinator in Cuba, Francisco Pichón, warned that the humanitarian crisis on the island was worsening daily due to a systemic energy shock, multiplying risks for the population. Over 40 US civil society organizations sent a letter to Congress asking it to press the Trump administration to reverse its aggressive policy, arguing that cutting oil shipments would spark a humanitarian collapse and constitute collective punishment. President Trump suggested that the United States could pursue a friendly takeover of Cuba, stating it could be positive for Cuban exiles, while the Cuban government denied any official talks were under way. Mexican Navy ships arrived in Havana with nearly 1,200 tons of humanitarian aid, and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez met with Pope Leo XIV in the Vatican. In early March, President Díaz-Canel called for an urgent transformation of Cuba's economic model, advocating more municipal and private sector autonomy and foreign investment in energy. Cuban authorities extended an aircraft fuel shortage notice at all airports until April 10, citing a kerosene deficit. On March 4, a failure at Cuba's main thermoelectric plant caused a massive blackout affecting two-thirds of the island, including Havana, leaving about 7 million people without electricity. Air France announced it would suspend flights to Cuba from March 29 due to fuel shortages. The Cuban government attributed its economic crisis to decades of US sanctions, asserting that they prevent it from repairing its electrical network, while some economists pointed to chronic state underinvestment. Energy expert Jorge Piñón reported that a Russian tanker, the Seahorse, was en route to Cuba with diesel, though it was unclear if it would reach port or be intercepted. President Trump confirmed that the United States was in contact with Cuban leadership, saying they needed help, but Havana denied any official talks were occurring. The Cuban government announced austerity measures to conserve energy, and protests broke out following the blackouts. On March 9, the UN representative in Havana, Francisco Pichón, stated that the UN was negotiating with the US government to facilitate the entry of fuel into Cuba for humanitarian purposes. Students protested at the University of Havana over disruptions to their education, and media outlets like Martí Noticias reported consecutive nights of protests in Havana with pot-banging and burning garbage. Cuban deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio stated on social media that the US maintained its fuel embargo against Cuba in full force and that its impact as collective punishment was unwavering. Cuba denied the existence of any negotiations with the United States, contradicting claims by President Trump, but on March 13, President Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuban officials had recently begun conversations with the US to address bilateral tensions. That same day, Cuba's foreign ministry announced an agreement with the Vatican to release 51 prisoners in the coming days. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated the dialogue between Washington and Havana. The situation culminated on March 14 when dozens of people attacked a Communist Party office in Morón, Ciego de Ávila province, during protests over power outages and food scarcity, leading to arrests and reports of gunfire, as the energy crisis and diplomatic maneuvers continue to shape events.

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