UN chief expresses deep concern over Cuba's worsening fuel crisis

2026-02-16 - 21:25

Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that Guterres "has been following the situation in Cuba extremely closely" and is "very concerned about the situation in Cuba, which is worsening as oil needs continue to be unmet." The UN chief reiterated the General Assembly's longstanding calls for an end to the US embargo on Cuba while urging all parties to pursue dialogue. Humanitarian impact and UN response UN teams on the ground are working with Cuban authorities to support humanitarian relief efforts for affected populations. The crisis has intensified following US actions that disrupted oil supplies from Venezuela, which had been shipping tens of thousands of barrels daily to the island. The cutoff followed a US operation that captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the seizure of oil tankers, effectively halting critical fuel deliveries that Cuba depended upon. Decades-long embargo compounds crisis The fuel shortage adds another layer to Cuba's decades-long struggle under comprehensive US sanctions. The embargo, repeatedly condemned by overwhelming majorities in the UN General Assembly, restricts Cuba's access to international markets and financial systems. The current crisis demonstrates how external pressures can rapidly escalate humanitarian challenges when nations lose access to essential imports from allied countries. International implications Cuba's worsening situation carries implications beyond its borders, affecting regional stability and migration patterns in the Caribbean. For nations including Türkiye, which maintains diplomatic and economic relations with Cuba, developments on the island are watched with interest. The crisis also highlights the broader consequences of great power competition playing out through economic pressure on smaller nations, raising questions about humanitarian exemptions and the limits of sanctions as a policy tool.