Cuba – Government Moves to Protect Essential Services Amid U.S. Fuel Threats

2026-02-09 - 12:57

Cuba has unveiled a sweeping contingency plan to safeguard essential services and ration fuel, as the communist-run government braces for potential disruptions stemming from renewed U.S. efforts to cut off oil supplies to the island. The measures, announced on Tuesday, mark the first concrete response since U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on U.S.-bound exports from any country supplying fuel to Cuba. The warning raised the prospect of deeper hardship for Cubans already grappling with acute shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. Government ministers said the new rationing framework is designed to ensure continued fuel access for critical sectors, including agriculture, education, water supply, healthcare, and national defense. Commerce Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva struck a defiant tone as he outlined the government’s strategy during a televised address. “This is an opportunity and a challenge that we have no doubt we will overcome,” Pérez-Oliva said. “We are not going to collapse.” He emphasized that fuel supplies will be preserved for revenue-generating sectors such as tourism and exports, including the production of Cuba’s world-renowned cigars, to secure much-needed foreign exchange. “If we don’t have income, then we will not overcome this situation,” he added. According to Pérez-Oliva, domestic and international air travel will not be immediately affected by the rationing measures. However, motorists should expect reductions in fuel availability at service stations until supplies stabilize. The government also pledged to protect ports and maintain fuel access for domestic transportation, underscoring the importance of keeping import and export operations functioning despite mounting pressure. In a bid to bolster food security, Pérez-Oliva announced plans to cultivate 200,000 hectares (approximately 500,000 acres) of rice to meet a significant share of national demand. He acknowledged, however, that fuel shortages would force greater reliance on renewable energy for irrigation and the use of animal power for agricultural labor. Education Minister Naima Ariatne, speaking on the same program, said infant-care centers and primary schools would remain fully open with in-person instruction. Secondary schools and institutions of higher learning, she said, will adopt hybrid models that allow for greater flexibility depending on regional conditions. “As a priority, we want to leave our primary schools open,” Ariatne stated. Health officials also confirmed that healthcare services will be shielded from the worst effects of the fuel constraints. Priority will be given to emergency care, maternity services, and cancer treatment programs. The announcement signals Cuba’s intent to withstand escalating economic pressure while attempting to preserve core social services, even as uncertainty looms over the island’s fuel supply and broader economic stability.