The United States signed an executive order on Thursday imposing new tariffs on any nation supplying oil to Cuba, representing the latest maneuver in Washington’s sustained pressure campaign against Havana. President Donald Trump declared the Cuban government an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US national security in the order, according to reports.
This mechanism allows for the imposition of additional ad valorem duties on goods originating from foreign countries that provide any oil, directly or indirectly, to the Cuban regime. The order specifically cites Cuba's alleged alignment with nations and transnational terrorist groups adverse to US interests, including Iran, Russia, China, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned the directive, characterizing it as a “brutal act of aggression” underpinned by falsehoods designed to misrepresent Cuba as a regional threat. Rodriguez stated that this action compounds the economic blockade imposed on the nation for over 65 years, asserting that the US itself exerts the primary malign influence in the region.
Geopolitically, the move follows the recent abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US forces and the subsequent effective control Washington assumed over Venezuela’s oil sector. Trump had previously warned that Cuba would soon face economic failure due to the cessation of Venezuelan crude shipments.
Until last month, Venezuela supplied approximately 33% of Cuba’s oil imports, while Mexico, another major provider, supplied about 44%, according to data cited by The Financial Times. Russia reportedly supplied around 10% of Cuba's energy needs.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed this week that her government had suspended oil shipments to Cuba, though she maintained the decision was sovereign and not made under direct US coercion. The interruption of Venezuelan supply, coupled with potential tariffs on other providers, severely strains Cuba's energy security.
This policy action increases the geopolitical risk for international energy traders operating in the Western Hemisphere, potentially forcing suppliers to choose between access to the US market and maintaining commercial ties with Havana. The effectiveness of these tariffs in isolating Cuba economically remains a key factor to monitor.
