U.S. Blockade of Cuba

Written By: Peter Kennedy

Following a string of assertive U.S. military and economic moves across the Caribbean, President Donald Trump has increasingly turned his sights on Cuba — and he isn’t being subtle about it.

The White House’s Caribbean interventionism escalated dramatically in January, when a U.S. military operation led to the capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, disrupting longstanding political and economic ties between Venezuela and Cuba. The arrest was followed by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assuming power and complying with Washington’s demands. With Venezuela subdued, Cuba — long dependent on Venezuelan oil — was left exposed.

The United States has also begun blocking oil tankers heading to Cuba in February 2026, targeting companies such as Pemex. The move aggravated the country’s existing energy crisis and triggered widespread fuel shortages and island-wide blackouts.

Trump’s rhetoric has grown increasingly bold. At a White House event on March 16th, the president declared, “Whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it. They’re a very weakened nation right now.” At a March 27 investment forum in Miami he added, “Cuba is next,” while touting the success of U.S. military action in Venezuela and the Middle East.

While both the U.S. and Cuba have confirmed some level of communication is underway, neither side has disclosed details, and Trump has portrayed Cuba as desperate to make a deal under mounting economic and humanitarian pressure. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, however, has vowed that “any external aggressor will clash with an impregnable resistance.”