APTOPIX Cuba Blackout
People walk on a street during a blackout in Havana, Monday, March 16, 2026.
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Officials in Cuba report an islandwide blackout in the country of some 11 million people as its energy and economic crises deepen. The Ministry of Energy and Mines notes a “complete disconnection” of the country’s electrical system and says it is investigating. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Friday warned that the island had not received oil shipments in more than three months and that it was operating on solar power, natural gas and thermoelectric plants. Cuba has blamed its woes on a U.S. energy blockade. U.S. President Donald Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country that would sell or provide oil to the island.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling for "new people in charge" of Cuba as the Caribbean nation experienced its third islandwide blackout in four months. U.S. President Donald, who has called Cuba a “very weakened nation,” said on Monday he believes he’ll have the “honor of taking Cuba.” On Tuesday Rubio, who is of Cuban heritage, said the current government is incapable to addressing the problems. The island's government blames its woes on a U.S. energy blockade after Trump in January warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. The country's aging grid has drastically eroded in recent years, leading to daily outages.
