Cuba is grappling with a worsening economic downturn, intensified by the abrupt halt in oil shipments from Venezuela following political upheaval in Caracas. With Nicolás Maduro no longer in power, the longstanding energy alliance between the two nations has collapsed, depriving Havana of a critical lifeline. The loss of subsidized crude has strained Cuba’s already fragile energy infrastructure, leading to frequent blackouts and fuel shortages across the island. Michael Bustamante, an expert in Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami, discussed the broader implications of this shift with WBUR’s Scott Tong, noting that over the past decade, Cuba’s economy has become increasingly dependent on external support. Without a clear path toward structural reform or new energy partnerships, the outlook remains bleak. While some hope for gradual liberalization, deep-seated institutional resistance continues to hinder meaningful change. The crisis underscores the vulnerability of economies reliant on geopolitical patronage rather than sustainable domestic development.
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Without Venezuelan oil, Cuba’s economic crisis and energy problems will get even worse
Cuba is in the midst of a deep economic crisis. n nSince Nicolás Maduro was removed from power in Venezuela, its oil shipments to Cuba have stopped. n nHere & Now’s Scott Tong speaks with Michael Bustamante about how events over the past decade have caused economic strain and whether real political and economic reform is likely there. Bustamante is a professor of Cuban and Cuban-American Studies at the University of Miami and the author of the book “Cuban Memory Wars: Retrospective Politics in Revolution and Exile.” n nThis article was originally published on WBUR.org. n nCopyright 2026 WBUR