Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel gestures during the second plenary session of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 6, 2025.
Pablo Porciuncula | AFP | getty images
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Wednesday criticized “almost daily” threats from the United States and promised to meet the Trump administration’s move to cut off the island’s fuel supplies with “unwavering resistance.”
His comments came after the communist-run island nation of about 10 million people partially reconnected its power grid on Tuesday evening, energy officials said. SaidFollowing a nationwide blackout that reportedly lasted more than 29 hours.
Cuba’s grid operator, UNE, said on social media that it was gradually restoring power to all provinces and cities across the country, without providing further details about the cause of the power grid collapse.
This country, located just 90 miles from Florida, is currently facing its biggest test collapse of the soviet union.
The US has imposed an oil blockade on the island since January, shortly after its ally and major provider of oil, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was captured in an audacious military operation.
US President Donald Trump has effectively cut Cuba off from Venezuelan oil, something his government called for.an unusual and extraordinary danger“, and pledged to impose tariffs on any country supplying him with oil.
Trump has repeatedly talked up the possibility of a “friendly takeover” of Havana in recent days, and has said the White House could set its sights on Cuba after the Iran war. The US President has also said that he can do whatever he wants with the country, adding that he feels he would have the “honor” of “taking Cuba”.
According to the national electricity company, Cuba faced a massive power outage on March 16, 2026, against the backdrop of a serious crisis on the island due to the US energy blockade.
Yamil lage | AFP | getty images
Cuba’s Diaz-Canel sharply criticized America threatens Havana in social media post.
“Their intention … is to announce plans to take over the country, its resources, its properties and even our economy, so that they can force us to surrender,” Diaz-Canel said on Wednesday, according to Google Translate.
He said, “This is the only way to explain the horrific economic war being waged as collective punishment against an entire people. Facing the worst, #Cuba is guided by one certainty: any external aggressor will meet with unyielding resistance.”
Cuba’s president last week confirmed talks between the country’s government and the Trump administration, but cautioned that the prospect of an agreement could take some time.
‘Discontent is gaining momentum’
In addition to adopting domestic energy rationing measures, the Cuban government has sought to dramatically increase its solar energy production amid ongoing fuel shortages.
But analysts warn that Cuba’s turn toward renewable energy sources may ultimately prove to be a case of “too little, too late”, as the country has failed to diversify its energy mix for years.
He said, “With Cuba’s power grid completely collapsed, events risk overwhelming both the regime and Washington. Although loyal security forces have been able to suppress unrest at the current level, dissent is gaining momentum.”
“The U.S. game plan for Cuba is unclear and could easily be dictated by fast-moving events rather than strategy,” Robert Munks, head of Americas research at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said in a research note.
Russia, which has been an ally of Cuba for decades, demanded on Tuesday Confirm your commitment Helping officials in Havana amid the country’s economic crisis.
