Cuba is grappling with a crippling fuel shortage, forcing citizens to wait months for limited gasoline rations and fueling a black market where prices have skyrocketed to an estimated $24 per gallon. The crisis stems from disrupted oil shipments, exacerbated by escalating pressure from the United States government under former President Trump.
Supply Chain Breakdown
For years, Cuba relied heavily on oil imports from Venezuela. However, with political instability in Venezuela, those supplies have dried up. The Cuban government has responded by implementing a rationing system that requires citizens to book appointments through a government-run app, but wait times are often measured in weeks or even months.
One Havana resident reported being assigned appointment number “seven thousand and something” at a local gas station, where only 50 slots are filled daily. Demand is so high that some online groups have formed to help people secure fuel, with stations processing up to 90 appointments per day, yet many face queues with thousands ahead of them.
Black Market Surge
The severe scarcity has triggered a thriving black market, where fuel now sells for approximately $6 per liter (0.26 gallons), equivalent to $24 per gallon—a staggering price in a country where many government workers earn less than $20 per month.
US Policy and Cuban Response
The crisis is directly linked to the United States’ aggressive economic policies toward Cuba, including sanctions that obstruct oil deliveries. Former President Trump threatened tariffs against any country continuing to supply fuel to the island. Cuba’s Deputy Prime Minister has condemned what they describe as the “persecution of ships” carrying fuel, as priority is given to essential services like water distribution. Even basic services, such as trash collection, have suffered, leading to unsanitary conditions in urban areas.
Diplomatic Standoff
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has expressed a willingness to negotiate with the United States, but only under conditions of “respect for our sovereignty, our independence, and our determination.” Discussions between US officials and Cuba remain uncertain, and immediate relief seems unlikely.
The situation underscores how geopolitical pressures can quickly translate into humanitarian crises, particularly in countries dependent on external supply chains. Without intervention, the fuel crisis will continue to worsen living conditions for ordinary Cubans.
