Cuba Rations Fuel and Suspends Jet Fuel as U.S. Oil Pressure Bites

Cuba has told international airlines that jet fuel will be unavailable and is rationing fuel and electricity across the island as a U.S. campaign to choke off its oil supplies takes hold, according to Al Jazeera and CBS News. Al Jazeera reported that jet fuel supply is suspended for one month, and CBS, in a later report, said Cuban aviation officials warned that it would not be available at nine airports, including Havana’s, until March 11.

The squeeze began after U.S. forces removed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January, according to both outlets, and Venezuelan oil stopped flowing to Cuba. Late in January, President Trump signed an executive order imposing tariffs on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, Al Jazeera and CBS reported. CBS said the order would primarily pressure Mexico, which had been an oil lifeline for the island, and Al Jazeera said Mexico was Cuba’s second-largest oil supplier after Venezuela.

Cuba’s grid was already suffering rolling blackouts before the latest cutoff, CBS reported in January, and the United Nations says most Cubans now face rolling blackouts, according to Al Jazeera. Electricity is cut for many hours a day, Al Jazeera said, and CBS reported outages lasting up to 10 hours in a later account. Bus stops are empty, Al Jazeera reported, and CBS said the Havana bus system has nearly stopped.

Airlines are adjusting. Air Canada suspended flights to Cuba, Al Jazeera and CBS reported in later accounts.

The Trump administration’s aim is plain. Trump has said Cuba’s government is “ready to fall,” according to CBS and Al Jazeera.

Mexico is caught in the middle. In later reports, Al Jazeera said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to keep supporting Cuba, and CBS said she would offer more help and is working to resume oil shipments. Al Jazeera added that Mexico is eager to avoid U.S. tariffs, since the United States is its main trading partner.