Trump U-turn: Is Venezuelan oil really available to Cuba again?
Al Jazeera
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The U.S. has announced a significant shift in its policy toward Cuba by allowing the resale of Venezuelan oil for "commercial and humanitarian use" in the island nation, which has been grappling with severe fuel shortages following months of a crippling oil blockade imposed by Washington. This move comes as Cuban officials face mounting pressure from regional leaders, including Caribbean nations, to alleviate the dire situation on the island. While the U.S. has approved licenses for entities to sell Venezuelan oil to Cuba, certain companies linked to the Cuban government and military are excluded from these authorizations.
The decision marks a notable reversal by the Trump administration, which had previously halted exports of Venezuelan oil to Cuba after seizing control of Caracas’s fuel supplies following the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. The U.S. has long maintained a hostile stance toward both Venezuela and Cuba, with its policies aimed at regime change in Cuba by 2026. However, the recent policy shift appears to be a response to growing concerns among Caribbean leaders about the potential regional impact of Cuba's deepening crisis.
Cuba is currently experiencing one of its worst fuel crises in decades, exacerbated by widespread power outages that have disrupted essential services like healthcare and education. The situation has raised alarms among international observers, with four United Nations special rapporteurs warning of a severe humanitarian crisis and public health threat. Despite the U
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/26/2026