Cubas leadership structure and potential succession crisis explored

US Pressure on Cuba Intensifies Amid Humanitarian Crisis

The US government’s actions against Cuba have led to widespread blackouts, fuel shortages, and growing uncertainty about the island’s leadership. The crisis is exacerbated by the country’s reliance on imported oil for electricity generation and public transportation.

In January, US President Donald Trump announced that no further oil or funding would be provided to Venezuela, a close ally of Cuba. He also issued an executive order threatening tariffs against any country supplying fuel to Cuba. Since then, only one tanker has reached the island, carrying 730,000 barrels of oil from Russia.

The depletion of Cuba’s fuel supply has severely impacted its infrastructure, leading to two island-wide blackouts in March alone, as well as regional power outages. The effects are being felt across daily life, with hospitals limiting surgeries, public transport reduced, and many people relying on wood fires for cooking and heating water.

According to a UN warning, the fuel shortages may lead to a humanitarian “collapse” in Cuba. Journalists have reported that there is a human cost to economic sanctions like those imposed by the US. A study published in The Lancet Global Health journal estimated that 564,000 excess deaths per year are linked to economic sanctions.

The situation has raised questions about the future of Cuba’s leadership and whether political change could be on the horizon. The US campaign against Cuba’s government continues to intensify, with Trump hinting at possible military action in recent statements.

Source: Al Jazeera