After Venezuela, Trump sets his sights on Cuba: stopping all oil deliveries should bring the island to its knees

dossier

“After Venezuela, Trump sets his sights on Cuba. Stopping all oil deliveries is intended to bring the island to its knees. Can Havana withstand this? A week after the illegal attacks on Venezuela and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, US President Donald Trump has now set his sights on its most important ally Cuba. In a post on his social media platform “Truth Social” on Sunday, Trump called on the government in Havana to “make a deal before it’s too late.” He left it open what this “deal” should entail or what would happen if Cuba refuses. But he thought the idea of ​​making US Secretary of State Marco Rubio president of Cuba was a good one..." OneAnalysis by Marcel Kunzmann from January 12, 2026 in Telepolis (“Trump’s next target: Is Cuba now coming to Venezuela?”) and more:

• UN General Assembly calls for an end to the US blockade against Cuba - Germany abstained for the first time, bowing to the threat from Washington
  • UN General Assembly calls for end to US blockade against Cuba: Ambassador referred to UN Charter. Germany abstained for the first time, following pressure from Washington
    “The United Nations General Assembly has voted on the resolution entitled “Need to lift the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba.” 130 states voted for the resolution and thus an immediate end to the US blockade policy against Cuba, while 17 voted against it. 25 states abstained from voting and 20 did not take part in the vote. The general debate was preceded by statements from 35 states in which positions were taken on the resolution. (…) Emphasis was placed on the suffering and deprivations to which the population of Cuba is currently subjected, which are caused or exacerbated by the US blockade. Several states demanded that merely verbal and symbolic support for Cuba was not enough, but that practical help was necessary. The fact that the current vote to abolish the US blockade policy was not as clear as before may be due, among other things, to various smear campaigns by the US. (…) It also became clear which states are dependent on the USA and are under its particularly strong influence. The reason for this was that in recent months the US government has exerted pressure on other governments even more vehemently than ever before. Documents show that she clearly requested not to vote for the resolution again this time. This policy of pressure and intimidation, known in the USA since the heyday of the mafia, which was also influential there during the occupation of Cuba, seems to be having an effect for some governments. The federal government also bowed to this pressure and abstained from voting in such UN votes for the first time in 34 years.(…) Numerous statements called for a dialogue between Cuba and the USA. Anyone who observes US policy will be reinforced in the impression that the current policy against Cuba and the appearance of the US representation in the UN General Assembly do not represent a contribution to dialogue, but rather reveal a deep, implacable hostile attitude. The UN vote ultimately shows a strong polarization between the Global Northwest and the South as well as the governments and their societies. In the USA, recent polls show that 72 percent of the electorate are against the US blockade policy.” Contribution by Edgar Göll from October 29, 2026 in Amerika21 
  • USA threatens Cuba supporters
    “Before the vote in the UN General Assembly on the US blockade of Cuba, Washington is putting pressure on countries. Cuba is fighting back.
    The USA shows no mercy towards Cuba. Since the intervention in Venezuela at the beginning of the year, sanctions against the Caribbean island have been further tightened and the government in Havana has been subjected to intimidation attempts. Ahead of the annual UN vote on October 27th or 28th on lifting the decades-long US blockade policy against Cuba, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced an unprecedented pressure campaign by the United States and strongly condemned the actions of the US justice system against Raúl Castro. (…)
    Rodríguez presented a letter from the U.S. State Department instructing U.S. embassies to pressure governments to vote against the resolution, abstain from voting or leave the room during the vote. The threats include the threat of punitive tariffs, the termination of cooperation programs, visa restrictions for officials and their relatives, support for opposition forces and secondary sanctions against entities that maintain relations with Cuba. "It is a set of methods that amount to real political violence, coercion and blackmail," he explained. An unnamed Latin American country also tried to influence other states "under pressure from the US government" so that they would not support Havana. (…)
    In all of these votes at the UN, the Federal Government voted for the Cuban resolution in accordance with the Basic Law and the UN Charter and always condemned the US blockade policy towards Cuba. However, at a special debate on July 7th in the UN General Assembly on tightening US sanctions, Germany abstained from voting on Cuba's request. This was supported by 136 states, nine voted against and 30 abstained.
    Wadephul does not see the US blockade as a blockage
    German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) had previously irritated people by saying that the US blockade against Cuba did not exist…”Article by Andreas Knobloch from October 27th, 2026 in ND online 
  • In the dark. The number of break-ins and thefts is increasing in Cuba. This is a new reality of the crisis
    “Last weekend the time changed in Germany; In Cuba it would happen next week. Were. Because Cuba is foregoing the change to standard time this year and is sticking to summer time. The government justifies the move with the tightening of the energy blockade by the United States. Since the clock remains set forward one hour, the sun sets later according to the official time. With less artificial lighting and more solar power, the government hopes to save electricity in the evening hours, when demand is highest..”Article by Andreas Knobloch from October 27th, 2026 in ND online 
• Cuba: Surviving in Washington's stranglehold
  “The US energy blockade was expected to bring down Havana within months. The country is holding out, with improvisation and solar panels. But the noose is tightening.
  In Holguín, in the Alcides Pino district, there are now electric tricycles where gasoline was once sold. Since June, a private company has been operating the Solinera “El Girasol” on the site of a former gas station: 30 solar panels, 40 kilowatts of power, completely independent of the grid. Residents can charge cell phones, lamps and fans there for free for two hours a day. (…) There has been a de facto oil blockade by the USA against Cuba since the beginning of January. Venezuelan oil shipments fail to materialize while tankers ordered on the global market are intercepted by the US Coast Guard. (…) Nevertheless, the collapse that Washington had hoped for did not occur. (…)President Miguel Díaz-Canel attributes this to Cuba's “creative resistance”: Chinese electric motorcycles and e-rickshaws are replacing gas-guzzling vintage cars and the discontinued bus services. Bars run on converted natural gas generators, one of the few reliable sources of energy since Cuba produces the gas itself. At the end of the month, an operator only paid 50 pesos, around six cents, for energy. At the same time, the state is intensively researching ways to refine the sulphur-containing domestic crude oil into fuels. (…) At the same time, Washington is turning the blockade into an instrument of control. According to the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, U.S. fuel exports to Cuba totaled $74.8 million in August and $231.7 million since January. The largest item was unleaded gasoline from Miami at $23.8 million. The US Treasury Department approves the deliveries in individual cases as part of an exception; they may only go to private companies. According to the Trade Council, the main beneficiaries are shipping companies and traders in Florida.All other sources, however, are cut off. (…) The declared goal is the overthrow of the Cuban government in the spirit of the newly launched Monroe Doctrine: America, the USA, China and “communism” (whose world capital is Cuba) must get out. Rubio announced that he would use “all available means” to achieve this; threats of military invasion have already been raised several times this year. (…) Havana is responding to the situation on two fronts. In June the government announced a comprehensive reform program. 176 measures give the market and private sector unprecedented scope. (…) At the same time, solar power is growing: 1.4 gigawatts in 144 parks now supply 21.4 percent of the electricity requirement, after three percent at the beginning of 2025. New incentives enable private expansion and grid feed-ins. But at night, when demand is highest, there is a lack of storage; Only one of four planned battery storage systems is online. (…) It remains to be seen whether the reforms will slow down the free fall. The UN Economic Commission Cepal expects a GDP decline of 10.3 percent for 2026; Inflation is expected to rise to around 27 percent. (…) The federal government has decided, if possible, not to offend Washington. When German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) was asked by a citizen this summer why the federal government did not criticize the US blockade against Cuba more clearly as illegal and contrary to international law, he replied: "I don't see such a blockade as you have described." According to information from the Berliner Zeitung, Berlin is still considering whether it should really vote for the resolution to lift the US blockade against Cuba in the annual UN vote on the issue this year.It would be the first time since 2002 that a German government would position itself so clearly on the side of the USA.” Post by Marcel Kunzmann from October 14, 2026 on Telepolis 
• Cuba solidarity is growing worldwide, including trade union solidarity in Germany and resistance to Trump's Cuba policy is growing in the USA
  • “Unblock Cuba”: What does Cuba solidarity mean for a trade unionist?
    “Workers and DGB members are ready to commit themselves more than before to the Cuban people, says Andreas Nolte
    [At the IG Metall trade union conference in 2023, a resolution was passed that also calls for an end to the US blockade of Cuba. Why is the group “Trade Unionists for Cuba” founded in March of this year needed?]
    We want the idea of ​​international solidarity to be anchored more firmly in our unions again. We founded the initiative out of the realization that the DGB unions had stopped international solidarity work for years. For IG Metall I can say that this was decided about 15 years ago. Funds were then regrouped and, for example, IG Metall's regular trips and youth trips to Cuba were unfortunately stopped. This really annoyed many people.
    I then contacted the Cuban industrial unions in spring 2023 and asked them whether they were interested in cooperating with us. Then they said: “Of course we are interested!” That gave me additional motivation to advance the application and the discussion within IG Metall. (…) I now regularly experience among my company colleagues and IG Metall officials that there is also an openness to the topic and a willingness to donate. This also applies to other unions: IG BAU has long had a resolution that active solidarity work should be carried out. And that's why we founded the trade union initiative for Cuba in March, nationwide. IG Metall, IG BAU, EVG, NGG and Verdi are among the supporters. We have continued to grow nationwide since we were founded…”Interview by Kim Chi Luu in the young world from September 18, 2026 
  • Resistance to Trump's Cuba policy is growing in the USA: the alliance sees the blockade against Cuba as an act of war and is therefore calling for a vote in Congress. Global solidarity with Cuba
    "After eight months of the total energy blockade of Cuba by the USA, which violates international law, resistance is growing at home. Now an alliance of civil society organizations has called on the leadership of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives to vote on a resolution on the government's war powers over Cuba. The alliance consists of 45 religious, peace policy, trade union, health-related and political groups. They addressed themselves directly to the Democratic group leader in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, as well as senior Democratic committee members Gregory Meeks and Jim McGovern. The organizations called for an immediate vote on the war powers resolution regarding Cuba (H.Con.Res. 106), introduced by Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez. In their letter to the Democrats, the alliance urged an end to the US oil blockade against the Caribbean island decisions of the United States,” it said. According to the organizations, the blockade already amounts to hostilities, which, however, has not been approved by Congress. Congressional authorization of hostilities is required by the U.S. Constitution. (…) At the same time, the “No War Against Cuba” campaign is running in the USA, initiated by groups that advocate for Cuba and other policies. Coordinated by the US Cuba Network, the groups involved are calling for a special political action to defend Cuba. From September 15th to 1stIn October they want to work harder on initiatives in Congress, letter-writing campaigns and personal discussions with representatives. (…) Civil society groups in other countries are also showing support for Cuba. In Vancouver, Canada, a car parade takes place every month to protest against US policies. An art auction and exhibition will be held in Mexico City on September 26 to raise money for Cuba, and in Berlin, a protest vigil is currently taking place in front of the US Embassy to demand an end to the blockade. Contribution by Edgar Göll from September 17, 2026 in Amerika21 
• Cuba presents current damage report on the US blockade / protest vigil from September 12th to 19th in front of the US embassy in Berlin
  • Cuba presents current damage report on the US blockade [and] continues to take military threats seriously
    "Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla presented on Tuesday at a press conference the report on the impact of the US blockade against Cuba. The current report covers the period between March 2025 and February 2026. It is traditionally presented at the request of the UN Secretary General and provides detailed information on the economic, commercial and financial damage caused by the US blockade policy of the US government in the country. Foreign Minister Rodríguez emphasized that the figures do not immediately make it clear, how great the impact is on individuals, Cuban families and ultimately the entire population. The blockade is an act of collective punishment that has meant suffering and restrictions in everyday life for over eight months. The Cubans have to survive with only two or three hours of electricity per day, a lot of food spoils, children have to do their homework in the dim light, young people have no access to the internet or leisure opportunities, grandparents can no longer listen to television or the radio The fuel blockade imposed by Trump on January 29th prevents deliveries - even of paid ones (…) Rodríguez quoted from the report that the damage caused by the blockade between March 1st, 2025 and February 28th, 2026 is a record value, even exceeding the record of the previous year (…)
    All of this leads to suffering and fear among the population. In addition, when asked about his administration's Cuba policy in January, Trump replied: "I don't think you can put much more pressure on them [Cuba] other than going in and destroying the country." (…)
    In response to a question from a journalist regarding a military threat from the United States, the Cuban Foreign Minister pointed out that numerous reputable sources, analysts and US non-governmental organizations provide evidence that the US government is indeed making military preparations. That is probably one of the options that the US President is considering. Cuba must therefore take this threat seriously. (…)
    Meanwhile, the report of Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the respect of human rights, Alena Douhan, was presented on September 8 at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council. (…) In its conclusions, it noted that the unilateral coercive measures used against the country have had a devastating impact on the Cuban population and described them as violations of international law.” Contribution by Edgar Göll from September 10, 2026 in Amerika21 
  • Cuba – solidarity wins! protest guard v. 12-19.9. in front of the US Embassy
    “From September 12th to 19th, a daily protest vigil against the blockade of Cuba will take place in front of the US Embassy in front of the Brandenburg Gate on Pariser Platz. There is a comprehensive program of events. Donations are requested to finance the protest vigil. The Berlin Trade Union Left Forum and the AKI Metaller:innen Berlin are also calling for participation in the campaign as part of the “Trade Unionists for Cuba” alliance.”Call at unionliche-linke-berlin.de 
  • Travel report from Cuba: “The worst crisis since the revolution”
    “A travel report from a Cuba between shortages, reforms, solidarity and resilience…”Article by Thorben Austen from September 12th, 2026 in Amerika21 
• Over 200 days of energy blockade: USA imposes new sanctions against Cuba, several friendly states send aid deliveries 
  • USA imposes new sanctions against Cuba: Nickel mines, steel factories, mining, tourism sector, employment agencies, Cuban officials and even culture are affected
    “Washington. The US government has again tightened its “maximum pressure policy” against Cuba. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) updated its list of blocked persons and entities (SDN list) on Thursday to include nine Cuban state-owned companies and three officials…”Report by Marcel Kunzmann from August 22nd, 2026 on Amerika21 from cubaheute.de 
  • Over 200 days of energy blockade: Help for Cuba
    “Havana. Several friendly countries are sending aid supplies with urgently needed products such as food and medicine to Cuba. More than 200 days have passed since the US regime began its total oil blockade against Cuba. The USA's policy of destruction against Cuba, which has been ongoing for 66 years, has already caused immense development damage. But the current energy blockade is the deliberate disruption of the fuel supply to a country that relies on it for the functioning of all its systems: hospitals, water treatment plants, water pumps, food cooling systems, transportation, schools, private households. (…) But in Cuba, everyday life continues despite all the deprivations and difficulties, even the book fair has started its tour through several cities. International conferences and high-level visits take place. And Cuban experts have developed new oil sources of their own, reversed the declining trend in domestic crude oil production and have now modernized three refineries to produce higher-quality oil products. In addition, over 50 photovoltaic solar parks with an output of over 1,000 megawatts were built at short notice, covering 38 percent of the daily requirement during the sunniest hours. Finally, Cuba has restarted 348 megawatts of thermal power generation capacity at decommissioned facilities. But all of this is still far from the minimum requirement. Cuba would need eight tanker deliveries of fuel per month, but has only received a single tanker delivery since the beginning of the year.
    Capote states: "The world knows, but largely does nothing. Airlines have suspended flights to Havana; international companies are withdrawing investments; fear of secondary sanctions, the punishment for trade with Cuba, has paralyzed the international community." At the same time, the solidarity of the peoples is very intense. He points to extensive deliveries, especially from China and Russia. Current reports underline this. China sent a third shipment of rice, bringing the total to 60,000 tons of rice. In addition, Beijing once again provided a donation of photovoltaic systems to support rural households and basic services…”Report by Edgar Göll from August 23, 2026 in Amerika21 
• Cuba: More than 7,000 containers of food and medicine blocked, 7th nationwide power outage - as US also cracks down on Cuba solidarity
  • Cuba: More than 7,000 containers of food and medicine blocked
    “Foreign Trade Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga blames US sanctions for the delivery stop. European shipping companies are also stopping trade with Cuba
    Havana. More than 7,000 containers of food, medicine and energy and water supplies cannot reach Cuba and are stuck in various Caribbean ports. Cuba's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Trade Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga made this statement to the Cuban National Assembly on July 29th. The minister said the goods were legally acquired in accordance with the rules of international trade. Pérez-Oliva Fraga blamed US sanctions for the blockade. The detained cargo also included goods for the island's drinking water program. More than three million Cubans have no regular access to drinking water every day. (…)
    The Cuban state-owned company Medicuba had previously reported that the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd had detained two containers containing an epilepsy drug in the Colombian port of Cartagena de Indias. The company cited compliance with US sanctions laws. Shortly before, the French shipping company CMA CGM had detained dozens of containers bound for Cuba in Jamaica, including one containing medical supplies…”Report by Marcel Kunzmann from August 5th, 2026 in Amerika21 
  • Power restored in Cuba after nationwide outage
    “The power grid in Cuba is back in operation. On Sunday evening, the supply in the country failed completely. It was the sixth nationwide power outage since the beginning of the year…”Agency report from August 4, 2026 in Zeit online and
  • Double blackout: Cuba fights its way back online - but for many it remains dark
    “After two nationwide power outages within 24 hours, Cuba's energy supplier UNE reports that the national power grid has been restored. But in Havana, almost two thirds of the population remains without electricity - and people's patience is exhausted…”Report from August 4th, 2026 in kubakunde.de 
  • USA takes action against Cuba solidarity after Rubio report
    “Parliamentary steps against Cuba solidarity group. Those affected speak of a new McCarthy era..”Article by Edgar Göll from August 3rd, 2026 in Amerika21 
• Trump is threatening an invasion and Marco Rubio is tightening sanctions against Cuba's health sector, trade and tourism - do they both want the same thing?
  • USA imposes even stricter sanctions on Cuba's health sector
    “Further sanctions against trade and tourism. Tightening measures are part of Rubio's campaign
    The US State Department on Thursday imposed new sanctions on nine Cuban companies and two senior government officials. The measures are aimed, among other things, against Cuba's state program for foreign missions in the health sector and against companies in the energy sector. The ministry justified the moves by denying the Cuban government access to “illegitimate sources of income.” The focus of the new measures is the Cuban foreign medicine program. The state marketing company for medical services, Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos S.A., was sanctioned. (CSMC), the Central Unit for Medical Cooperation (UCCM) and its head Gretza Sánchez Padrón and Minister of Health José Ángel Portal Miranda. (…) Two energy trading companies and the Centro de Investigaciones del Petróleo (CEINPET) were also sanctioned. The latter is currently researching ways to refine domestic crude oil into fuel in order to make the country more independent of imports. It also hit several companies that Washington accuses of circumventing existing US sanctions: the container port company of Mariel, the country's most important cargo port, the maritime service provider Coral Marítima S.A., Ceiba Investments Limited, which operates in the tourism sector, and the remittance company Orbit S.A. (…) Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla reacted sharply. “Any act of aggression by the US government is aimed at inflicting collective punishment on the entire Cuban people,” he wrote on social networks.(…) The measures are part of a broad pressure campaign by the Trump administration under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. His ministry recently published a document of around 100 pages entitled “Cuba: the capital of communism in the 21st century”. This is intended to prove that Havana has been mobilizing left-wing forces worldwide against the USA for decades and is ultimately striving to “conquer” the United States. The report also targets actors in Europe: German solidarity groups such as the FRG-Cuba Friendship Society are named in it, as are the participants in a solidarity flotilla that arrived in Havana with humanitarian goods in March. In a press release, the German network Cuba described the paper as an “abstruse conspiracy fantasy” and accused Washington of systematically confusing “cause and effect, perpetrator and victim.” The board called on the federal government and the EU to clearly condemn the “US terror against Cuba” and to noticeably increase emergency aid for the Cuban population. Contribution by Marcel Kunzmann from July 25, 2026 at Amerika21 
  • Can Cuba wait out Rubio? The US says it wants a deal with Havana - but Marco Rubio's politics tell a different story
    “Shortly after four members of the U.S. Congress returned from an official trip to Havana early last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a package of new sanctions against Cuba's tourism, energy, trade and security sectors.They are the latest step in a months-long maximum pressure campaign aimed at toppling the island's government by the end of the year.
    “Silent Gaza”
    The four Democratic representatives, Mark Pocan, Teresa Leger-Fernández, Maxine Dexter and Delia Ramírez, learned firsthand from various Cuban voices during their trip that the de facto fuel embargo and escalating secondary sanctions against foreign companies in Cuba are strangling the very people the United States claims to support.
    The group described the conditions it saw in the Cuban capital as "silent Gaza" - contradicting the Trump administration's claims that its blatant regime change maneuver was aimed only at the Cuban government.
    I accompanied the congressional delegation and have lived, worked and traveled on the island for over a decade. When the farmers, doctors, religious leaders, aid organizations, private entrepreneurs and foreign diplomats who met with lawmakers say the crisis in Cuba is worse than at any time in recent memory, they mean it.
    Nationwide power outages now occur almost every week. Without electricity, access to running water becomes increasingly scarce. Children don't go to school because teachers don't come to work. This also applies to most other employees, so private companies have to close. With limited fuel and few international flights, tourism and the income it generates for Cubans is collapsing.
    Hospitals and clinics are operating at their limits while garbage piles up on street corners, encouraging the spread of mosquito-borne and viral diseases. Food spoils in ports, fields and refrigerators, while the rapidly depreciating national currency becomes virtually worthless to Cubans. (…)
    A carefully crafted plan to regularly send U.S. tankers carrying fuel for the Cuban private sector was foiled by Marco Rubio within a day of its announcement. Spanish hotel chains such as Meliá and Iberostar, French and German shipping companies such as CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd as well as the US credit card giants Visa and Mastercard have ceased operations on the island.
    Perhaps all of this is happening as planned and a “soft” takeover of key Cuban industries by President Donald Trump and some of his friends and donors is in the works. (…)
    With hundreds of high-end hotels sitting nearly empty, it seems plausible that U.S. hotel chains — including Trump's own — could snap them up at knockdown prices. New sanctions against Cuban military and state tourism companies have forced authorities to initiate privatizations of key assets, according to informed sources.
    Investors from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt who are believed to have ties to Trump are advising Cuban trade representatives. They are seeking approval for the development of a “Trump Island” on a largely military-administered island in the north-central part of the archipelago. In addition, both the container terminal in the main port of Mariel and the leading international business center in Havana were recently separated from any military connection. (…)
    As Trump warns that “a lot of things are going to happen in Cuba in the next few months” and life on the island becomes more and more unbearable, Cubans are running out of time.
    The administration is currently betting on holding out at least until January next year, when Democrats are expected to retake one or both chambers of Congress. Then they will try to slow down further economic or military escalation…”Guest article by Lee Schlenker from July 23, 2026 in Telepolis (with lots of links)
  • As Trump threatens invasion, the administration releases a report defaming Cuba and the left
    “In the report, those responsible condemn the critical statements made by left-wing personalities such as Hasan Piker and Zohran Mamdani.
    The State Department has released a report calling Cuba the "ideological capital" of left-wing politics - a document that appears to echo Cold War politics and was released amid the Trump administration's fascist crackdown on the left.
    The 99-page report is titled “Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism.” It argues that since the rise of Fidel Castro and left-wing revolutionary thought in the Caribbean country in the 1950s and 1960s, the form of left-wing politics there "now enjoys something of an ideological hegemony both within and outside the West." Although Cuba itself is a “failed state,” the report said, its political project has nevertheless expanded to the point where it threatens “Western civilization itself.”
    The small island nation's ultimate goal is to "conquer the neighboring United States," the report says. “Since 1959, Cuba has been — and will always remain so without fundamental, radical reforms — less a nation-state than an all-encompassing intelligence and subversion operation focused on its existential revolution against the United States,” the report said.
    In fact, the report comes at a time when the United States appears to be preparing for an invasion or attack on Cuba. For months, President Donald Trump has been threatening that Cuba would be “next” on the US military’s hit list. And CBS reported last week that Pentagon officials had prepared a "range of options," including an airstrike on the country - which is already teetering on the brink after the Trump administration's months-long total oil blockade caused wave after wave of nationwide power outages.
    In fact, the report hits two goals of the Trump administration: denigrating Cuba in advance of possible military action against the country, and creating the myth of an organized and violent left poised to destroy the United States, as administration officials launched last week… “EnglishArticle by Sharon Zhang from July 20, 2026 in Truthout (machine translated)
    • See also the dossier:What Trump started in the USA in 2019 is spreading internationally: the (vicarious) persecution of the Antifa movement as a “terrorist organization”
• Cuba's crops rot, 2nd island-wide blackout in a week: “Energy as a weapon” by the USA until the government is overthrown
  • “Energy as a weapon” until the government is overthrown: The USA is driving Cuba into economic and social ruin
    The political scientist Bert Hoffmann explains inInterview by David Sowka from July 7, 2026 in contrast.at , why US policy under Trump is massively aggravating the situation, what role the Cuban military is playing and why the country could face a humanitarian catastrophe in the coming months:"...After the revolution in 1959, Cuba was for a long time one of the most egalitarian societies in the world. But that is over. Today it is crucial whether you have access to the dollar world or not. Anyone who has relatives in the USA who send them money or food can still make ends meet. In Havana there are still shops where you can buy Spanish ham and Chilean wine - and there are Cubans who buy there. But the majority experience this as glaring inequality under the roof of one another socialist order. And these beneficiaries include the relatives of pro-Trump Cubans in Miami as well as the current state, military and business elite. (...) Cuba has been in crisis for a long time, without a doubt (...) And yet: the current, really dramatic escalation is a direct result of the Trump administration's strangulation policy - Austria would also go into a state of emergency The fact that there has been no “Venezuelan solution” in the last five months is already an answer. Apparently the Cuban regime is more closed, obviously the USA has not yet found a “Cuban Delcy Rodríguez”. As a result, they continued to build up the military threat backdrop. (…) With a few exceptions - especially Spain - Europe's governments hardly want to go into conflict with the USA over Cuba. That's why there are hardly any protests against US policy. (…) The hardliners in the USA want to see the symbol fall. And that’s what makes negotiations so difficult.When Trump says: “I can do anything I want with Cuba!” – no matter how bad the situation is and no matter how pragmatic the leadership in Havana may be, this leap into nothingness is hardly possible. (…) Militarily, the USA is of course vastly superior and could quickly win. But they don’t want to send thousands of US soldiers and US police officers to Havana “to run the country”. They want the existing security forces, politically minded, to do this for them. And this can get complicated in Cuba…”
  • Second island-wide blackout in Cuba in a week
    “An island-wide blackout occurred in Cuba today for the second time in just four days. The Department of Energy announced that emergency protocols to restore power have been activated…”Agency report from July 11, 2026 on ORF 
  • Cuba's harvest is rotting: Serious consequences of the US blockade on its own food production. Washington wants to prevent UN debate on aggression
    "The murderous consequences of the oil blockade imposed against Cuba will be the topic of discussion this Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Havana requested the special session to denounce the "aggressive actions" of the USA, which have exacerbated the energy crisis and are affecting important supply services, explained Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez. If the US government does not manage to prevent the meeting at the last minute, in addition to the energy blockade, the threat of military aggression by the Trump regime will also be discussed. The The current debate is taking place a good three months before the vote on the annual draft resolution to end the blockade, which is scheduled for October 27th. It is necessary now because the effects of the siege on the energy sector, health care, transport and food supplies are becoming more dramatic every day, Havana representatives emphasized how serious the situation is, especially in agriculture, the British business newspaper Financial Times described on Monday. According to the report, the fuel blockade is forcing more and more private farmers to close their farms because there is a lack of diesel for tractors, irrigation and transport. Crops are rotting in the fields or can no longer be delivered, while power outages of up to 22 hours are further hindering food production. Since the Trump administration almost completely stopped oil deliveries and tightened additional enforcement measures against energy-related transport, there have been power outages and bottlenecks in irrigation, transport and cooling in large parts of the island.Farmers report that their tractors are at a standstill and fields can only be cultivated with animal or manual labor. Even the sale of harvested products is failing because transport logistics have collapsed. As a result, food prices are constantly rising and the supply situation for the population is noticeably deteriorating. “The fruit is also rotting on state mango farms because there are no transport options,” complains Annabelle Cantarero Sánchez, head of the organic farm Finca Tungasuk west of Havana. According to the Financial Times, the already severe supply crisis has worsened dramatically within just a few months since the start of the US energy blockade. (…) While the government in Havana is trying to expand domestic food production, the US blockade means producers are lacking the very resources that are indispensable for this. This gives the UN debate additional topicality and explosiveness, and that is exactly why Washington seems to fear it. As the US magazine The Nation revealed, citing a leaked cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the State Department has launched a campaign to prevent the special session. If this does not succeed, US allies should reprimand Cuba for “gross incompetence and massive corruption” and non-aligned states should refrain from commenting entirely. Countries that show solidarity with Cuba are warned: The United States will “follow their statements very closely” and advise against speech “that could lead to tensions in our bilateral relations.” Article by Volker Hermsdorf in the Junge Welt from July 7, 2026 
• EU panders to Washington in its course against Cuba: EU change of course on the Cuba question and Germany's isolation in UN committees
  "In June, the Cuban government initiated a rapid reform process. After setting up a commission of experts made up of renowned Cuban economists, the National Assembly approved more than 200 reform proposals ( Amerika21 reported). At the same time, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for new EU sanctions against the Caribbean island for the first time in more than two decades. While international law experts and special rapporteurs from the United Nations have been criticizing the tightened US blockade for weeks as a structural human rights violation, the EU is now moving closer to this policy which she herself has rejected for a long time (…) As justification, the MPs blame the Cuban government almost exclusively for the humanitarian crisis and thus adopt central arguments of US foreign policy. The claim that Russia is supporting the war in Ukraine also serves as a justification for further intensifying pressure on the island. The resolution literally describes Cuba as a “failed state” and reduces the complex causes the economic and social crisis on the country's political system. Not only political reforms are required, but also far-reaching liberalization of the economy. Even humanitarian aid is subject to appropriate conditions. The EU is not limiting itself to assessing the situation, but is formulating concrete ideas about how Cuba should be politically and economically organized in the future.From Havana's perspective, this represents an encroachment on national sovereignty and the right to self-determined development. (…) The convergence with Washington's course also comes at a most unfavorable time for the EU. At the beginning of June, Germany clearly failed in the election to the United Nations Security Council. Observers also attribute the weak performance to Berlin's foreign policy positioning in key international conflicts. Particularly in the Global South, there is growing criticism of a policy that often assesses violations of international law by Western allies differently than comparable actions by geopolitical opponents. With its new line, the European Union is also increasingly isolated on the Cuba question. Year after year, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly condemns the US blockade. Not only the states of the Global South, but also the EU member states have so far regularly rejected the unilateral coercive measures. The fact that Brussels is now calling for sanctions against Cuba itself and is thus moving closer to key positions of the US government marks a remarkable break with previous European policy…” Contribution by Kurt Terstegen from July 5, 2026 in america21 
• US offensive against Cuba on the way to recolonization: Threatening introduction of capitalism, increasing child mortality... and solidarity rally on Sunday June 28th. in Berlin
  • Cuba: The Donroe Doctrine and the Path to Recolonization
    "Washington's offensive against Cuba includes sanctions, energy embargoes and an indictment of Raúl Castro. It follows a logic of appropriation that sometimes resembles a recolonization of the country. Apparently the aim is to preserve parts of the elite that already rules over the island and to integrate them into US investments. Cuban society, on the other hand, has no say in this development. 124 years after the founding of the Republic of Cuba, which has been from the beginning was never really sovereign, the USA is once again dictating its terms to the island. What had been announced in recent weeks - celebrated in Miami as an act of liberation and denounced as aggression in Havana - resembles a rough attempt at a corporate merger (...)
    The economic core of the Cuban state is essentially the Grupo de Administración Empresarial SA (Gaesa) consortium, a holding company founded in the 1990s under the control of the army, whose activities today extend to tourism, imports, telecommunications and free trade zones. The latest US sanctions are aimed at exactly this company. This also affects eleven Cuban government officials and the family of President Miguel Díaz-Canel, as well as the indictment of Raúl Castro by the federal prosecutor's office in South Florida for the shooting down of two small planes belonging to the “Hermanos al Rescate” organization 30 years ago. While the political exploitation of these charges is obvious, the pressure they will trigger cannot be underestimated, especially after the arrest of Nicolás Maduro in his own presidential residence. Overall, the measures are aimed less at destroying the Cuban elite - because it is relatively large and difficult to replace - than at integrating at least part of it into a system of investments and loans from the USA, which are to be financed primarily from Cuban-American capital. This is indicated by the ongoing confidential talks between the two governments, in which the Cuban side has expressed interest in direct investments with up to 100 percent private capital for ports, mining, tourism, energy and banks. In this sense, sanctions and negotiations are two sides of the same coin. (…)
    The tensions are also related to the conservative ideology of the Cuban power elite. Although a political takeover has taken place, the actual decision-making power remains in the hands of a new military, economic and bureaucratic elite. This emerges from two institutions that were controlled by Raúl Castro for decades: the Communist Party and the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). (…) The prosecution of Raúl Castro takes place against the background of the collapse of the island, its energy blockade, its de facto dependence on the USA and the revival of continental interventionism in Washington, which is based on the new edition of the Monroe Doctrine (or “Donroe Doctrine”, following Donald Trump). After Maduro's arrest and prosecution in New York, only Cuba remained as the last member of the Bolivarian bloc. (…)
    After the island was historically dependent on the Soviet Union and the Bolivarian bloc for a long time, a renewed colonization of Cuba by the USA seems unstoppable. The only thing that could curb the current oligarchic tendencies would be a real increase in citizen participation in the Republic, the restoration of the original sovereignty of the Cuban people, or a peaceful transition to a democratic system. This possibility, which none of the actors involved even considers, requires the active participation of a society shattered by six decades of nationalization of social life, exhausted by an endless crisis and without confidence in the future. Contribution by Rafael Rojas from June 24, 2026 at the News Pool Latin America 
  • Statement by left-wing communists in Cuba on the threatened introduction of capitalism
    “…Let us briefly summarize the main measures: the introduction of private banking; permission to own any number of companies; private companies can hire as many employees as they want and pay them as they see fit; the complete abolition of the foreign trade monopoly; foreign debts are settled through the sale of national assets; and the areas where the private sector is prohibited are reduced to a minimum. The history of the Cuban Revolution must be removed from schools so that new generations do not realize that the current rulers have betrayed the revolution.
    And almost ridiculously, the Prime Minister happily announces that he is inviting the big fast food chains to set up shop in Cuba: the centenary of the Commander-in-Chief will be celebrated with Colonel Sanders.
    Raúl Rodríguez Castro claims that this package of measures aims to promote socialism and that his opponents are conservatives. One MP argues that socialism is “for rich and poor.” This rhetoric is reminiscent of the Soviet bureaucrats who, when the restoration of capitalism became apparent, continued to lie and claim that they were socialist measures. (…)
    Meanwhile, protests break out every night in the streets of Havana. It's not just about hardship, but more importantly about the fact that they have no connection to the government. When the Cuban Revolution triumphed, those workers and peasants who took up arms to confront a possible U.S. invasion defended the gains they had gained under Fidel Castro's leadership. Today these achievements may seem like mere political propaganda to the Cuban youth, but for the landless peasant, the poor worker, the illiterate, the one who never imagined studying at university, the one who knew he would not be expelled from his home - for all of them the revolution meant the immediate improvement of their living conditions, and defending them meant defending their interests. But while Cuban society today has to watch as its rulers live in luxury, enrich themselves and - again - take unilateral measures that they themselves doubt will benefit them, the population is confronted with a reality: wages are not even enough for the week, power outages last longer than a day, mountains of garbage block the streets, and in many places they are forced to cook with wood. There is almost no public transport, hunger and a catastrophic shortage of medicine and even basic medical supplies such as stethoscopes. And there is no way out. Telling them that it's all the fault of the embargo is a bad joke. As the country sinks deeper into darkness, the government is selling solar systems.While mothers have nothing to feed their children, the official media portal Cubadebate publishes advertisements for a dairy company. There is no reason for this Cuban majority to defend the Cuban government. You can hardly imagine a worse future - even if there may be one. (…)
    We call on internationalist Marxist organizations to show solidarity with the Cuban working class, whether through organizing solidarity campaigns or demanding political freedoms, while working towards the formation of a united anti-imperialist front.”  Statement by left-wing communists of Cuba on June 26, 2026on unionliche-linke-berlin.de in an unnamed German translation , see also:
  • Cuban government prepares to reintroduce capitalism
    “…Has Cuba suffered from too little capitalism?
    What is remarkable is the ideological justification with which the leadership of the PCC defends its course. For decades, the Cuban government blamed the country's economic difficulties primarily on the reactionary US blockade. Díaz-Canel takes a different line of reasoning. In his speech to the Central Committee, he explicitly stated that the economic crisis was not only due to “obstacles coming from outside or the blockade.” He referred to “inertia, bureaucracy and regulations that hinder those who want to produce” as well as “decisions that we have postponed” (…)While millions of Cubans face power outages, rising prices, food shortages and falling real wages, certain sectors have significantly increased their prosperity. The circles associated with GAESA, officials of the state bureaucracy and owners of private companies have benefited from the reforms to date. The new reform package will dramatically accelerate this development and aims to shift the burden of the crisis onto the shoulders of workers and the poor…" From theContribution by Luis Linden from June 20, 2026 at class against class 
  • Cuba's children are dying again: US blockade of socialist island republic significantly sets back positive developments
    "In Cuba, not a day goes by when the population is not confronted with new harassment from the Trump regime. (...) The extent to which the US coercive measures specifically affect the most vulnerable is demonstrated by the latest figures that Cuba's ambassador Ernesto Soberón presented to the UNICEF Executive Council on Tuesday. Child mortality has increased from 4.0 to 9.9 per 1,000 live births since 2018 doubled, the survival rate of children with cancer fell from 85 to 65 percent, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, more than 12,000 girls and boys are currently on waiting lists for surgical procedures. At the same time, the energy blockade imposed by Trump in January prevents the transport of food more, the weight of the subsidized bread has been reduced from 80 to 60 grams. The once exemplary pharmaceutical sector is also increasingly suffering from the US coercive measures. As Mayda Mauri, President of Bio Cuba Farma, said, there is currently a lack of raw materials for 300 of the 395 medicines in the basic supply catalog, while generics can hardly be produced anymore (…) While governments in Western countries are becoming complicit in the matter US aggression, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum again called for an immediate end to it on Wednesday. "We are against blockades, not the governments," she said at her daily press conference.In addition, seven Mexican state parliaments have passed resolutions calling for an end to all US coercive measures. Similar initiatives are being prepared in more than 20 other local parliaments. (…) [T]he Spanish online newspaper Diario Red [reported] at the weekend in an article about the geostrategic dimension of US policy towards Cuba. Accordingly, the escalation of measures is not only motivated by domestic politics, but also an expression of long-term interests in securing control over the Gulf of Mexico and the Strait of Florida. The region is of central importance for energy flows, trade and military routes. From this perspective, Cuba appears not just as a source of political conflict, but as a strategic node in a larger geopolitical power structure in which economic pressure and sanctions are used as instruments of influence.” Article by Volker Hermsdorf in the Junge Welt from June 19, 2026 
  • Berlin: Central rally “Hands off Latin America – Solidarity with Cuba”
    “We, Cuba Si, together with the party executive of the Left, are calling for the central rally “Hands off Latin America – Solidarity with Cuba” in Berlin (Pariser Platz)!
    Sun. June 28th at 2 p.m. Berlin, Pariser Platz
    We will continually update all information about the rally on our homepage.https://cuba-si.org/start/aktion-todos-a-la-plaza/ 
    We look forward to a combative and joyful rally on June 28th. in Berlin!
    Monetary donations
    • General: Netzwerk Cuba e.V. (Berlin), GLS Bank, IBAN: DE28 4306 0967 1206 4415 00
    • for health: Support Association for Humanitarian Cuba Help HCH, Sparkasse Dortmund, IBAN: DE52 4405 0199 0091 0160 36, keyword: Cuba projects
    • for energy: Network Interred Cooperacion e.V. (Frankfurt/M.); Bank for the Social Economy, IBAN: DE15 3702 0500 0007 6002 00, keyword Solar Cuba“ Demo and call for donations from Cuba S
• Solidarity actions with Cuba continue to increase in the USA and Western Europe - the report from a trip and conversations with critical Cuban leftists provides new foundations
  • Solidarity for Cuba is growing in the USA and Western Europe
    "The solidarity actions with Cuba continue to increase, while the US government continues to increase the pressure on the Cuban government and population. The population in Cuba has been suffering for five months now from the even tighter blockade and coercive measures of the regime of US President Donald Trump. The governments and official bodies of almost all countries are only carrying out minor or symbolic aid measures for fear of unpredictable acts of revenge from the US, but are not providing vital fuel. Numerous organizations in the USA have networked and are coordinating their efforts nationwide Solidarity activities were held at the beginning of June. Accordingly, there were coordinated actions, for example in Windsor, Canada, Mexico City and the entire USA. The largest of these organizations, including the National Network for Cuba (NNOC), Codepink, People's Forum and Pastors for Peace, have also continued the “No War on Cuba” campaign and are intensifying their activities. (…)
    Local “Action for Cuba Committees” (ACCs) should be formed throughout the country to implement activities. The central demands include an end to any military escalation against Cuba, the removal of Cuba from the US list of states that allegedly support terrorism, and a general end to the economic blockade. The organizers also demand the return of the Guantánamo Bay naval base to the Cuban people and advocate normal relations between the two countries. With massive and professional preparation, a “Week of Actions” is being prepared for the period from June 28th to July 4th, the US national holiday. (…)
    Meanwhile, there are a variety of very different activities in several countries beyond the United States. A large Cuba conference was recently organized in Berlin by the daily newspaper Junge Welt, with Aleida Guevara, Che's daughter, and over 600 participants on site. A little later there was a large solidarity concert by the Berlin-Cuba Friendship Society to collect donations for a solar project. Something similar took place in other cities. (…) From Italy there was a personal contribution from young activists who are currently on a solidarity tour through Western European cities under the motto “Europe wake up!” with the demand “Let Cuba breathe!”. (…)
    Finally, a major central rally is being prepared for June 28th in Berlin. The Bundestag faction of the Die Linke party is organizing this and has launched a call to send a clear signal of solidarity with Cuba. The motto “Hands off Latin America – Solidarity with Cuba” is intended to rouse politicians and the media to criticize and help end the barbaric crime of the arbitrarily acting US empire against the peaceful neighboring state of Cuba.” Contribution by Edgar Göll from June 16, 2026 in Amerika21 , see also:
  • Act to Stop the US War on Cuba: Week of Action – Sunday, June 28, 2026 to Saturday, July 4, 2026
    Call and all informationhttps://nowaroncuba.com/ 
  • An island between imperialist offensive and social crisis
    “Cuba is not only suffering because of the US embargo, but also from the consequences of the government there's failed policies - report from a trip to the island and conversations with the critical Cuban left
    Although the sun is shining, Cuba is dark. In the capital, power outages last 20 to 22 hours a day, while in other parts of the country they last up to 40 hours at a time. The energy crisis is having a massive impact on life: food is rotting in refrigerators, the hospital system is overloaded and operations at universities and schools are severely restricted. Due to the lack of fuel, public transport has practically come to a standstill. Cuba's most important source of foreign currency, tourism, has collapsed. (…) The effects of the blockade once again clearly show the cynicism of US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who present themselves as “saviors”. With each passing day, Washington is increasing economic pressure and threats of military intervention. The aim is to enforce the conditions demanded by the White House and to make Cuba a vassal state again. (…)
    The consequences of this crisis fall particularly on the shoulders of the working class, especially people of African descent, women and children, who are most affected. Spared from the situation are the privileged classes linked to the ruling bureaucracy and the armed forces - including GAESA, the military-run parastatal conglomerate that, by some estimates, controls 40 percent of the economy. The new bourgeoisie, which has formed around private companies, can also afford higher consumption. Havana, like all of Cuba, is bearing the consequences of government-driven reforms and the resulting increasing inequality. (…)
    The growing inequality is exacerbated by reforms pushed forward under recent governments, including the creation of joint ventures and the opening up to investments by Cuban-Americans, such as the "Gusano" bourgeoisie from Miami, in strategic economic sectors. These reforms, presented by the ruling bureaucracy as the only viable response to the crisis, have strengthened capitalist relations and opened up new spaces for private accumulation. At the same time, they represent austerity measures that hit the working class hard, while an increasingly wealthy minority benefits economically. (…) In this context, Roberto, a researcher at the university, tells us: »There are no official surveys in Cuba, but support for the government barely reaches 20 percent today. In addition, (President Miguel) Díaz-Canel has neither the prestige nor the charisma of Fidel (Castro)." (…)
    But criticism and resistance to the Díaz-Canel government is not synonymous with support for imperialist intervention. Many reject US interference. For example, Alma, who works more than twelve hours a day in a small company. After talking about the growing inequality in Cuba and her criticism of the “new bourgeoisie,” she also says: “The situation is not easy. We could lose what little is left of what we have achieved.” The Cuban Revolution means a lot to her. Ramón, a veteran of the Cuban intervention in Angola and a member of the critical Cuban left, does not hold back his opinion: »I am against the government. But if the Yankees come, I'll take up arms again." Most on the Cuban left share this anti-intervention stance. (…)
    Protests have also formed in the past as a result of the government's economic reforms, including on July 11, 2021. Although the government claimed that rights were behind them, these protests were actually the result of social discontent over economic policies, growing inequality and the repression of the Díaz-Canel government. They responded with even more oppression. Thousands of workers and poor youth were imprisoned - many of them receiving long prison sentences. (…) In recent years, what is now known as the critical Cuban left has emerged. It brings together political and social activists, artists, journalists and cultural figures