The administration of President Donald Trump announced an unexpected easing of oil sanctions against Cuba, allowing the export of Venezuelan oil to the island. This decision comes at a time of Cuba's critical energy collapse, which has caused concern across the Caribbean region. However, Washington sets tough conditions: the raw material can only reach private entities, which is intended to force the dismantling of the state monopoly and weaken the communist regime in Havana.

Easing of Oil Sanctions

The USA is allowing the export of Venezuelan oil to Cuba, which is intended to alleviate the island's deepest energy crisis in decades.

Private Sector Condition

Fuel supplies can only be carried out by private entities, which bypasses the Cuban government's state monopoly.

Marco Rubio as Strategy Architect

The Secretary of State promotes using the crisis to force political reforms and prepare for free elections.

Great Power Rivalry

Canada and Russia declare aid, while the USA seeks to take on the role of Cuba's main energy supplier.

The decision by the Donald Trump administration to allow supplies of Venezuelan oil to Cuba represents one of the most surprising shifts in US foreign policy in recent years. For decades, Washington sought to isolate the island by applying a rigorous embargo. The current turn, however, is not an act of selfless aid, but an element of a pragmatic strategy using the energy crisis as political leverage. The situation in Cuba has become dramatic – systematic blackouts and shortages of basic goods have pushed the economy to the brink of collapse, prompting neighboring countries and Canada to intervene with humanitarian aid.

The main architect of this agreement is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who promotes a vision of transforming Cuba by strengthening the private sector. The permission for independent firms to trade Venezuelan oil has two goals: first, to prevent total chaos that could trigger a wave of migration to the USA; second, to weaken the Havana government's control over a key sector of the economy. Rubio emphasized that the USA does not intend to save the regime, but to open a path to free elections, similar to what is planned in Venezuela after weakening the influence of Nicolás Maduro.

Relations between the USA and Cuba have remained tense since the 1959 revolution. After a brief period of thaw during the time of Barack Obama, the first Trump administration returned to a policy of "maximum pressure," which was continued until the current breakthrough.

These events provoke mixed reactions on the international stage. Canada announced food aid, and Russia is considering its own fuel support, indicating an attempt to maintain influence on the island in the face of the US diplomatic offensive. Meanwhile, the Cuban government remains distrustful, accusing the USA of financing terrorist activities using speedboats in the island's territorial waters. Washington, however, is consistently pursuing its strategy, aiming to make Cuba a country more dependent on US energy supplies instead of ideological allies from Moscow or Caracas.

„This is a chance for the Cuban people to get their country back. We will no longer support a dictatorship, but we will help the people on their path to economic freedom.” — Donald Trump

Mentioned People

  • Donald Trump — President of the USA, who made the decision to ease oil sanctions against Cuba.
  • Marco Rubio — US Secretary of State, main promoter of the strategy to strengthen the private sector in Cuba.
  • Nicolás Maduro — Leader of Venezuela, whose position is crucial for oil supplies in the region.