What is Going on in Cuba?

Since February 1962, the United States has maintained an embargo on everything Cuban, following the socialist/communist revolution in 1959. There have been many times when the tension between the two countries has peaked, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis later in 1962, and relaxed, as it did during the Obama administration. Throughout this history, there has remained a tense 90 miles between the coast of Florida and the island nation, but when the second Trump administration came into power in January of 2025, it instituted a number of executive orders that increased the pressure on the Cubans, especially on their import of crude oil. One specific example is Executive Order 14380, which added tariffs to countries that supplied Cuba with crude oil.

The primary suppliers of oil for Cuba are Mexico and Venezuela, but primarily Venezuela. Venezuela has recently come under effective control of the United States after special forces kidnapped its president in January of this year, and they have acquired compliance from the government that remains in place. With this control, the United States has stopped the Venezuela-Cuba oil trade, effectively strangling the country’s entire energy supply.

Critically low fuel has caused disrupted supply chains, loss of transportation, breakdown of civil and governmental functions, and disruption to hospital and water systems (trash collection, school buses, etc.). Cuba has experienced many electrical problems, such as rolling blackouts in the western part of the country. The Island is reaching a point where it is becoming impossible to operate as a functional state. This, paired with “mysterious refinery fires,” is crushing the country and collapsing the economy.

With this maximum pressure on the Cuban government, the Trump administration has begun to openly state that it is looking for regime change in Cuba and is looking forward to making a deal that will realign the Cubans toward Washington. Although no open talks have begun yet, Trump has stated that a deal should be easy to make and is looking forward to working with Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on inevitable negotiations.

The president is working hard to bring Cuba to the table so we can finally integrate them into the regional economy and start having friendly relations with one our closest neighbors. Hopefully a big win.

Finally getting rid of the anti-American communist threat that has been on our doorstep for 60 years is in the best interest of the American people. We're on board with this policy because of the proximity to our homeland and ensuring our hemispheric control.