Cuba’s Power Crisis Deepens as China, Russia Back Havana Under U.S. Embargo

C Cuba faced widespread power outages on March 4, with Havana and most of the island affected as the electricity grid failed in the middle of the day. The scene underscored a persistent energy crisis tied to fuel shortages and longstanding sanctions.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez held back-to-back telephone talks on March 12 with his counterparts in China and Russia at Havana’s request, as Cuba seeks international support amid its energy squeeze. China’s state media reported the calls were part of efforts to maintain close ties with allied nations.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s position that the United States cannot press Cuba economically or politically without consequences, highlighting Russia’s support for Cuba’s sovereignty and its right to determine its own development path.

Cuba has long depended on imports for fuel, and the current crisis is tied to the U.S. oil embargo, which constrains access to energy supplies and heightens the risk of further outages and shortages across the island.

President Donald Trump said on March 10 that Cuba is “in serious trouble” and indicated the United States would manage the situation and consider possible changes in the Cuban regime, suggesting the outcome could be either favorable or unfavorable to U.S. interests. He referenced an unnamed U.S. official overseeing the Cuba situation.

China’s Xinhua News Agency reported that Rodríguez requested a call with Wang Yi, China’s foreign minister, and that both sides agreed to continue developing bilateral relations, reflecting Havana’s effort to secure regional backing.

Rodríguez had met Vladimir Putin and Lavrov in Moscow last month, and Putin has criticized sanctions on Cuba as unacceptable, signaling room for continued alignment with Havana amid Western pressure.

Why this matters for U.S. readers: Cuba’s energy crisis and its sanctions-related constraints are part of broader regional stability and energy security considerations in the Western Hemisphere. Moscow and Beijing’s visible backing for Cuba complicates Washington’s policy approach toward Cuba, Latin American alignments, and regional supply-chain resilience. The developments also illustrate how energy-short Cuba becomes a focal point for international diplomacy and potential shifts in regional influence that could affect U.S. interests in the Caribbean and Latin America.