Cuba announced this week that it has completely run out of diesel and fuel-oil reserves [1].

The total depletion of these energy sources threatens the island's transport and power infrastructure, intensifying an ongoing economic crisis and escalating diplomatic tensions between Havana and Washington.

Cuban Energy Minister Vincente de la O Levy said that the country has reached a point where reserves are exhausted [1]. The government attributes the shortage to a U.S. energy blockade that prevents the import of necessary oil and fuel products [1, 2].

President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the United States' illegal embargo is strangling the economy and has left the nation without fuel [2]. The president's comments highlight the government's position that external sanctions, rather than internal mismanagement, are the primary driver of the current energy collapse.

In response to the crisis, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio said there is no economy in Cuba [3]. Rubio's comments reflect the U.S. perspective that the island's systemic failures are a result of its own political and economic structure.

According to official reports, the reserves for diesel and fuel-oil now stand at zero days of supply [1]. This lack of fuel impacts everything from food distribution to electricity generation, as the island relies heavily on these imports to maintain basic services.

The Cuban government continues to call for the removal of the embargo to alleviate the shortage. However, U.S. officials have maintained that sanctions remain a tool for political leverage regarding the island's governance.

“"We have completely run out of diesel and fuel-oil reserves."”

The total exhaustion of fuel reserves marks a critical failure in Cuba's energy security. While Havana blames the U.S. embargo for blocking imports, the situation underscores the island's extreme vulnerability to external trade restrictions and its inability to find alternative energy suppliers. This crisis likely increases the risk of widespread power outages and transport failures, further destabilizing the domestic economy.