February 3, 2026
Over the last month, the U.S. government has intensified its decades-long aggression against Cuba. Oil shipments to the island from Venezuela have been cut off since Washington’s January 3, 2026, attack on that country. On January 22, the Trump administration threatened a full naval blockade of the island nation. And on January 29, Trump signed an executive order labeling Cuba an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States and declaring that Washington will impose punitive tariffs on any country trading oil with Cuba.
Isaac Saney is a Cuba specialist who coordinates the Black and African Diaspora Studies program at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. With roots in the African Nova Scotia community and the Caribbean, his teaching, research, and scholarship encompass Cuba, Africa, the Caribbean, Black Canadian history, the global Black liberation struggle, and reparations. A major area of his research is Cuba’s relationship with Africa.
In response to the latest escalation of Washington’s economic war on Cuba, Saney issued a statement that first appeared on January 30 on his Facebook page. It was subsequently published by the Cuban news service Radio Rebelde (Rebel Radio).
Anyone know whether maybe china supported Cuba by sending solar panels? It was always a big risk for Cuba that they need energy imports.
Yes, China is sending many solar panels and other renewable tech to Cuba. But not quickly enough to avoid a major collapse of the power grid in the short term. They still need oil.