Source: UN News: Wednesday, February 11, 2026 00:02 AM
The United Nations has warned that efforts by the United States to block oil supplies from reaching Cuba are threatening to worsen the humanitarian situation in the country. The United States has threatened to impose tariffs on any country that supplies oil to Cuba. This step has further increased the pressure on the island country, following the trade embargo on Cuba that has been in place for the past several decades. In addition, the situation has become more tense after the US detained Nicolas Maduro, then Venezuelan President, last month. Venezuela has long been Cuba’s main supplier of oil, but in recent weeks the US has increased pressure on Cuba. This includes an executive order issued last Thursday that threatens to impose additional tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba, including Mexico. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that UN Secretary Generalis extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Cuba. “If the country’s oil needs are not met, this situation will worsen and could ultimately lead to humanitarian collapse.” The UN chief noted that the General Assembly has been calling for an end to the sanctions imposed by the US for more than three decades. “The Secretary-General urges all parties to follow the path of dialogue and respect international law,” said spokesman Stephane Dujarric. IARC The Caspian Sea is a rich source of biodiversity, as well as abundant natural resources such as oil and gas. Deteriorating situation… Due to fuel crisis in Cuba, prices of food items have increased. “Clearly, especially after recent events in Venezuela, what we are seeing right now is a mixture of emotions,” said Francisco Pichon, the senior UN official in Cuba, due to severe fuel shortages across the country. 32 Cubans were killed in Venezuela during the US crackdown to detain the then Venezuelan President Maduro. Investment, a major obstacle… UN official Francisco Pichon, speaking to UN News last month, told UN News that large sections of the Cuban population are facing phased power cuts, at a time when the number of people living in vulnerable situations has increased significantly. Recent Even before the regional developments, the United Nations was working with the Cuban government on a range of ideas, including ways to support development and diversify the country’s economy. Francisco Pichon said the energy transition is a major priority due to limited access to fuel and infrastructure challenges. But investment needs still remain a major hurdle. Urgent change needed “The last two years have been extremely difficult,” he said. “Amidst severe economic, financial and trade sanctions, urgent changes are necessary to preserve Cuba’s social model.” Cuba’s economy, which has historically relied on tourism as a major source of foreign exchange, was hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. This still remains well below 2018 levels. As Cuba’s economy weakens, many of the country’s social indicators, such as universal healthcare, universal education and other subsidized services, and social protection systems such as food rationing, have also come under pressure. “All this is happening in the context of the sanctions imposed on Cuba by the United States,” said UN official Francisco Pichon. According to him, the US has again listed Cuba as a country providing financial support to fuel terrorist activities (state sponsored terrorism). He said, “From the United Nations perspective, our guiding principles remain unchanged: to be present, to support, to work on the basis of cooperation, to respect international law and the values of the United Nations.”
