Canada said Monday it is developing a support initiative for Cuba as the country grapples with power outages and acute fuel shortages exacerbated by the U.S. oil embargo.
The nation is rapidly depleting its oil reserves, creating dire social and financial need for the island’s 11 million inhabitants.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand declined to provide specific details at this time.
“We are preparing a relief plan. We are not ready to give any details about the announcement at this time,” Anand said.
Cuban Catastrophic Energy Crisis
Cuba is going through a progressively disastrous energy situation that recently intensified after oil exports from Venezuela, its primary supplier, were halted when the United States struck the South American nation and detained its head of state in early January. Mexico, another major supplier, subsequently cut fuel supplies following US pressure.
Air Canada and various other carriers have canceled flights to the Caribbean territory due to a lack of jet fuel available on the island.
Canadian travel is essential for Cuban financial system. Global Affairs Canada noted that Canada represents the island’s second largest source of foreign direct investment, particularly in the mining and tourism industries.
Canada would partner with Mexico in providing humanitarian aid.
A pair of Mexican navy vessels carrying humanitarian supplies arrived in Cuba earlier this month, a fortnight after US President Donald Trump warned of tariffs on countries selling oil to the island, exacerbating the Caribbean nation’s deep fiscal and energy crisis. These vessels delivered roughly 800 tons of supplies, along with another 1,500 tons of pulses and milk powder.
The financial downturn that has afflicted Cuba since 2020 has been exacerbated by tighter U.S. sanctions aimed at triggering a shift in the island’s government structure. This pressure resulted in major shortages and massive power outages, peaking in early 2026.
Since Cuba produces only 40% of the energy it needs, it is extremely vulnerable to foreign embargoes. While powerful partners such as Russia and China have condemned the US actions, their aid has so far remained largely gestural.
Following the removal of Venezuela’s head of state earlier this year, Trump the presidency focused on Cuba. The island’s near-total isolation currently presents the administration’s most significant test since the 1962 missile crisis.
President Trump’s trade ban stopped any oil ships from docking on the island for several months. A vessel carrying Russian energy is said to be en route to the territory to try to bypass the blockade, although the US has detained other tankers that have previously attempted similar missions.
