His administration is considering a full navy to stop imports from , as part of possible new measures aimed at regime change in the Caribbean nation, Politico reported, citing three sources familiar with the plan.
Although no final decision has yet been made, some critics of the Cuban government within the Trump administration appear to support such a measure, which also has support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Blocking crude shipments to Cuba would mean a further escalation, following Trump’s recent announcement to curb oil from Venezuela.
Discussions within the Trump administration
Inside the government, however, discussions continue as to whether it is necessary to proceed with this measure. The loss of oil from Venezuela has already taken a heavy toll on the Cuban economy, while implementing a full embargo could trigger a humanitarian crisis, with possible backlash even within the Cuban government itself.
As Politico notes, the discussions show how far some Trump administration officials are willing to go against Latin American leaders they see as rivals. According to a person familiar with the plan, “energy will be the weapon that will hit the regime.” The overthrow of the communist government, in power since the Cuban revolution of 1959, is considered by the US government a certain fact for 2026.
They consider that there is a legal basis
The move could be legally supported by the LIBERTAD Act of 1994, also known as the Helms-Burton Act, which enshrines the US embargo on trade and financial transactions with Cuba.
Cuba imports about 60% of the oil it consumes, according to the International Energy Agency. Until recently, it relied mostly on Venezuela, but the Trump administration has begun seizing oil shipments under sanctions. Mexico has now assumed the role of a major supplier, but the quantities it supplies are not sufficient to fully cover Cuba’s growing energy deficit.
