All posts tagged: Cuba government

Trump to relax oil blockade on Cuba as Russian tanker nears the island

Trump to relax oil blockade on Cuba as Russian tanker nears the island

Published by Sam Flores

An old Soviet-era Lada car drives past a truck belonging to a private Cuban company (mipyme) parked in front of a gas station with an IsoTank of imported fuel in Havana on March 19, 2026. Adalberto Roque | Afp | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump said he has “no problem” with a Russian crude tanker delivering fuel to Cuba, appearing to reverse course over his administration’s oil blockade as the island grapples with a deepening energy crisis. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said: “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it’s Russia or not.” His comments come as a Russian-flagged oil tanker, the sanctioned Anatoly Kolodkin, makes its way to Cuba carrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of crude oil. The tanker is reportedly expected to reach port on Monday and is seen as something of a lifeline to the Caribbean nation, which is facing its biggest test since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cuba had been …

Cuba confirms talks with U.S. — but warns an agreement will take time

Cuba confirms talks with U.S. — but warns an agreement will take time

Published by Sam Flores

Teresa Rodriguez, 58, looks at Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel on state television, as Diaz-Canel said the country has opened talks with the U.S. government amid a severe economic crisis and as the Communist government has come under increasing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, in Havana, Cuba March 13, 2026. Norlys Perez | Reuters Cuba’s government has held talks with Donald Trump’s administration, the country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, said on Friday. It confirms speculation that the two countries were talking after U.S. President Trump renewed his threat of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, saying the communist-run Caribbean island was in “deep trouble.” “These conversations have been aimed at seeking solutions, through dialogue, to bilateral differences that exist between the two nations,” Díaz-Canel said, according to a readout posted on social media by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla. “There are international factors that have facilitated these exchanges,” Díaz-Canel said. The country is facing a worsening economic crisis. The U.S. has imposed an oil blockade on the island since January, shortly after its ally and a key …

Russia says situation is escalating after boat incident

Russia says situation is escalating after boat incident

Published by Sam Flores

Cuban coast guard ships docked at the port of Havana on February 25, 2026. Cuba’s coast guard said on February 25, 2026, it shot dead four people and wounded six others traveling in a US-registered speedboat during an exchange of fire near Cuba’s shores that came amid heightened tensions with Washington. Adalberto Roque | Afp | Getty Images The Kremlin on Thursday said that the situation in fuel-starved Cuba is intensifying after a deadly incident with a U.S.-registered speedboat off the coast of the Caribbean island. “We see that the situation around Cuba is escalating,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti. “The most important thing is the humanitarian component. Of course, the humanitarian issues of Cuban citizens must be resolved, and no one should create obstacles,” Peskov said. The comments come shortly after Cuba’s interior ministry said border guards killed four exiles and wounded six others onboard a Florida-tagged speedboat that entered its territorial waters. The 10 passengers of the vessel were said to have opened fire …

Cuba suspends cigar festival amid fuel shortages and U.S. oil blockade

Cuba suspends cigar festival amid fuel shortages and U.S. oil blockade

Published by Sam Flores

A woman smokes a cigar during a humidor auction held as part of the closing ceremony of the XXV Habanos Festival in Havana, on February 28, 2025. Yamil Lage | Afp | Getty Images An annual cigar festival in Cuba’s capital city of Havana, which had been due to take place over five days in late February, has been suspended until further notice due to a worsening economic crisis. The postponement comes as the island nation’s communist-run government endures its biggest test since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Habanos S.A., the cigar fair’s organizer, said on Saturday that it had suspended the festival “with the aim of preserving the highest standards of quality, excellence and experience that characterize this international event.” The organizing committee said it was working on setting a new date for the fair, without providing further details. The festival has previously welcomed more than 1,000 guests from around 80 countries, with attendees participating in auctions and touring tobacco plantations. Premium Cuban cigars are globally renowned and considered of high economic importance, …

Cuba halts flights as jet fuel shortage deepens under Trump sanctions

Cuba halts flights as jet fuel shortage deepens under Trump sanctions

Published by Sam Flores

Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel (C) takes part in the “Anti-Imperialist” protest in front of the US Embassy against the US incursion in Venezuela, where 32 Cuban soldiers lost their lives, in Havana on January 16, 2026. Yamil Lage | Afp | Getty Images Cuba’s communist-run government is facing its biggest test since the collapse of the Soviet Union. U.S. President Donald Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on the Caribbean island since the Jan. 3, military operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a long-time ally of Cuba’s government. Cuba said 32 of its citizens were killed in the attack. Trump has since effectively cut Cuba off from Venezuelan oil, called its government “an unusual and extraordinary threat” and pledged to impose tariffs on any country that supplies it with oil. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned the move and said: “Surrender is not an option.” He’s since said the government is prepared to hold talks with Washington, albeit “without pressure or preconditions.” The country has warned that international airlines would no longer be able refuel …

Russia shrugs off Trump’s tariff threats

Russia shrugs off Trump’s tariff threats

Published by Sam Flores

A vehicle fills up with fuel at a gas station in Havana on January 28, 2026. Yamil Lage | Afp | Getty Images The Kremlin on Thursday said it is actively discussing what help it can provide to fuel-starved Cuba, dismissing U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threat to sanction countries that send oil to the Caribbean island. “We wouldn’t want any escalation, but on the other hand, we don’t have much trade right now,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti. His comments came in response to a question about whether the Kremlin was concerned about the Trump administration’s tariff threats. The White House has pledged to impose tariffs on countries that provide any oil to Cuba, whether directly or indirectly, saying the communist-run government represents an “unusual and extraordinary threat.” The U.S. has stepped up its pressure campaign on Cuba’s leadership since Jan. 3, when it conducted an extraordinary military operation to depose Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Cuba’s government. Peskov reportedly said Thursday that …

Cuba says airlines can no longer refuel as Trump turns up the pressure

Cuba says airlines can no longer refuel as Trump turns up the pressure

Published by Sam Flores

Aerial view of Jose Marti International Airport in Havana, taken from an airplane on April 3, 2025. Yamil Lage | Afp | Getty Images The Cuban government said international airlines can no longer refuel in the island nation due to fuel shortages after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country that supplies the communist country with oil. Cuba’s leadership said Sunday that the country will run out of aviation fuel from Monday, likely disrupting airlines operating there, according to EFE news agency, which cited two sources. The kerosene shortage is expected to persist for the next month, with all of Cuba’s international airports affected. Cuba’s Foreign Ministry and the Cuban Embassy in London did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment. The Trump administration has sought to tighten the U.S. chokehold on Cuba since Jan. 3, when it conducted an audacious military operation to depose Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Cuba’s government. Trump, in an executive order issued at the end of January, said the Cuban government constituted “an …