No food, no fuel, no tourists: Life in Cuba comes to a halt under US pressure

Now, Cuba may be experiencing the most profound moment of economic uncertainty that the island’s residents have endured in decades if not over their entire lives, CNN writes.

Through military action in Venezuela and threats of tariffs on Mexico, the Trump administration has shut off the flow of oil to Cuba, attempting to strong-arm the communist-run island into making significant political and economic reforms.

What oil the island has left is running out. The twin loss of fuel and tourists for the people of Cuba has been catastrophic.

As the crisis drags on, life is slowly grinding to a halt across this island of nearly 10 million people.

Classes have been suspended at many schools and workers furloughed to save energy. Near vacant hotels have been shuttered and flights from Russia and Canada canceled as there is not enough jet fuel on the island for longer international flights.

Many government-run hospitals have cut services and a lack of fuel and working dump trucks has caused trash to pile up across whole neighborhoods.

At night in Havana, the stars are often clearly visible as most of the city is swathed in near total darkness.

“There’s no oil, there’s no money, there’s no anything,” US President Donald Trump told reporters Monday, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading efforts to negotiate with top Cuban officials.

Rubio, who is Cuban American and a longtime opponent of the Cuban government, has previously said the only thing he intends to discuss with the island’s communist leadership is when they would relinquish power.

In late January, Trump signed an executive order that would impose a tariff on any goods from countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba. Since the Venezuela operation, Trump has said that no more Venezuelan oil will go to Cuba and that the Cuban government is ready to fall.