Political, economic and ideological factors explain why the island escapes the logic of US energy interests
The United States has kept Cuba under pressure since the last century and reinforces this stance in the current scenario under the government of the (Republican Party). the president, the White House’s plans may or may not include “a friendly takeover” of the Caribbean island. This threatening approach presents differences in relation to the strategies focused on oil in the war in Iran and the intervention in Venezuela.
Tension between Cuba and the United States results from factors such as geographic proximity, ideological heritage and a long-standing economic dispute.
Cuba is about 150 km from Florida. Historically, this favored economic integration similar to that maintained by the USA with other countries in the Caribbean and Central America. Before the Cuban Revolution of 1959, North American companies invested extensively in the agricultural sectors, especially in the region’s sugar and fruits. Furthermore, Cuba was a very attractive destination for North American tourism.
The strengthening of the regime of Fulgêncio Batista, a leader supported by the USA, reinforced the presence of foreign capital, but also fueled dissatisfaction among the population. This scenario paved the way for the movement led by Fidel Castro, which had anti-imperialist discourse as one of its pillars. The new regime nationalized companies, mainly North American ones based in Cuba.
In an interview with Poder360Patrícia Nasser, professor of economic sciences at UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais), stated that this movement “it led to the rupture of political-diplomatic relations with the USA in 1960 and marked the beginning of a confrontational relationship that continues to this day. The country is not a capitalist economy, nor a democracy along the North American lines.”
Without access to the North American market, Cuba began to depend on the Soviet Union for energy supplies, which led it to adopt socialism in 1961. After the dissolution of the USSR, Cuba experienced difficulties related to energy supplies. With the election of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela in 1998, the South American country assumed the role of the Caribbean country’s main oil supplier.
Economic and energy crisis
The US capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026 reduced fuel shipments and Trump’s embargoes worsened the island’s crisis. The economic logic behind the pressure on Cuba differs from other cases:
“In oil-rich countries, the North Americans’ dispute usually involves control of energy resources. Current economic pressure seeks to intensify these difficulties to force political changes and an eventual opening of the market and the possibility of North American investments in various sectors”said the teacher.
Donald Trump has openly shown interest in promoting regime change in Cuba and has already indicated that there will be consequences if Havana refuses to negotiate. For the expert, this threatening speech should not be treated only as a political strategy:
“The speech is tough and should be taken seriously, but this does not necessarily mean military intervention. The strategy appears to be one of economic pressure and demonstration of power, something more compatible with the recent foreign policy of the United States under the Trump administration”said Patrícia Nasser.
This report was produced by the journalism trainee at Poder360 under editor’s supervision.
