Power grid failures and fuel shortages intensify pressure as U.S. calls for political and economic change
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for sweeping changes to Cuba’s leadership and governing system Tuesday as the island faced another widespread blackout that left millions without electricity.
Large portions of the country remained without power following the latest collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid, the third such event in four months, underscoring a worsening energy and economic crisis affecting the nation’s 11 million residents.
Electric service was gradually being restored in some regions, including hospitals and limited residential areas, though officials warned the system remains unstable and could fail again. Cuba’s aging infrastructure has deteriorated in recent years, resulting in frequent outages and repeated large-scale disruptions.
The Cuban government has attributed the crisis to external pressure, including U.S. actions targeting its energy supply. The situation intensified after the United States halted key oil flows tied to Venezuela and warned of consequences for countries supplying fuel to the island.
During remarks at the White House, Rubio criticized Cuba’s political and economic structure, stating the system is incapable of resolving the crisis.
“So they have to change dramatically,” Rubio said. “What they announced yesterday is not dramatic enough. It’s not going to fix it.”
Rubio added that the country’s economy “doesn’t work in a political and governmental system” and argued that meaningful reform is required.
The Trump administration has tied any potential easing of sanctions to specific conditions, including the release of political prisoners and movement toward broader political and economic liberalization. At the same time, President Donald Trump has raised the possibility of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba as the crisis unfolds.
The collapse of Cuba’s power grid follows a prolonged decline in fuel availability. While the country produces a portion of its own petroleum, it has historically relied on imports, particularly from Venezuela. Those shipments were disrupted earlier this year after U.S. action against Venezuela’s leadership.
Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines reported partial restoration of electricity in areas including Pinar del Río and Holguín, with limited “microsystems” beginning to operate in other regions. In Havana, state media said power had been restored to a small percentage of residents.
For many citizens, the outages have had immediate consequences. Residents described difficulties preserving food and navigating daily life without electricity.
“The power outages are driving me crazy,” said Dalba Obiedo, a Havana resident. “Last night I fell down a 27-step staircase. Now I have to have surgery on my jaw. I fell because the lights went out.”
Others expressed broader frustration with the ongoing conditions. “What little we have to eat spoils,” said Tomás David Velázquez Felipe. “Our people are too old to keep suffering.”
Officials said crews are working to restart key thermoelectric plants as part of efforts to stabilize the grid, though the underlying infrastructure challenges remain unresolved.
The latest blackout adds to mounting pressure on Cuba’s leadership as economic conditions deteriorate and political tensions with the United States escalate, with U.S. officials signaling that further changes in governance may be necessary to address the crisis.
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