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UN Declares U.S. Fuel Blockade Unlawful Amid Cuban Shortage

5/15/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The United Nations declared the U.S. fuel blockade unlawful, saying it violates Cubans’ rights to development, food, health and water sanitation.
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said Cuba has run out of diesel and fuel oil, leaving the grid critical.
Only the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin has delivered crude since December, after Mexico and Venezuela halted shipments following President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

History

Historical Context

After the United States imposed an embargo on Cuba in 1960, it halted oil shipments, forcing Castro to nationalize refineries and turn to Soviet fuel. The Soviet collapse in 1991 cut Cuba’s oil imports by 80% and shrank GDP over 35%, sparking the “Special Period.” Decades of sanctions make the island rely on Russian tankers like the Anatoly Kolodkin, a practice the United Nations calls unlawful.

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Story summary

The United Nations declared the U.S. fuel blockade unlawful, saying it violates Cubans’ rights to development, food, health and water sanitation.
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said Cuba has run out of diesel and fuel oil, leaving the grid critical.
Only the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin has delivered crude since December, after Mexico and Venezuela halted shipments following President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.

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