Following the US intervention in Venezuela and the removal of President Nicolás Maduro, aimed at asserting hegemony and subjugating Latin America and the Caribbean, Trump has turned his focus sharply towards Cuba. Soon after the Venezuela operation, the US intensified its blockade by imposing a total oil embargo and threatening punitive tariffs on any country supplying fuel to Cuba. Under US pressure, several Latin American countries such as Guatemala and Honduras have moved to expel Cuban doctors and medical brigades, which had long been providing critical healthcare services to marginalised populations neglected by their own systems. Their removal has directly impacted access to healthcare for thousands, particularly among the poorest sections.
For the past three months, Cuba has received almost no fuel supply, pushing the country into a severe energy crisis. Yet, the island nation continues to resist, defending its sovereignty while rapidly expanding alternative energy sources such as solar power to keep critical sectors, including hospitals, functioning. In recent weeks, Cuba has experienced multiple nationwide blackouts, reflecting the severity of the crisis, although authorities have managed to restore supply and maintain essential services. But the escalating blockade has been severely impacting the Cuban economy, have affected their ability to cook and preserve food, transport goods, or access public healthcare services in hospitals.
Amid this pressure, attempts are also being made to destabilise the country internally. On February 25, 2026, Cuban forces thwarted an infiltration attempt involving a Florida-registered speedboat, linked to elements within the Cuban diaspora in the United States, carrying advanced weapons and ammunition. This incident points towards a US-backed covert effort using sections of the Cuban diaspora to incite violence and chaos. This is a familiar playbook, one that dates back to the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, where CIA-backed counter-revolutionary forces attempted to dismantle the Cuban Revolution and restore a pro-imperialist oligarchic rule.
Despite these sustained attacks, Cuba and its people continue to resist. In a powerful act of international solidarity, the Nuestra América Convoy has been launched to deliver essential medicines and humanitarian aid, drawing parallels with efforts like the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. On March 17, the first batch of the convoy arrived in Havana carrying five tonnes of medicines and medical supplies to support the country during this crisis.
As the Trump regime continues its imperialist war threats against Cuba and its socialist system, which once overthrew the imperialist plunder machine, Cubans are bravely standing in defence of their sovereignty and country. Despite immense suffering, they carry forward the enduring spirit of resistance with the words of Fidel Castro: Patria o Muerte, Venceremos (Homeland or death, we will prevail).
