Venezuela, through the state chain Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), blamed the United States for the massive blackout affecting Cuba since October 18. The government of Nicolás Maduro stated that the energy crisis on the island is a result of the "economic war" and the sanctions imposed by the U.S., describing them as an unjust blockade and a violation of human rights. The statement highlights “the efforts of the heroic Cuban people and President Díaz-Canel,” and calls on the international community, especially the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, to support Cuba and reject the U.S. accusations of terrorism.

Let's remember that on August 30, Venezuela was plunged into a general blackout, which many citizens saw as a strategy by chavismo to divert attention from the serious situation the country is facing, having been in economic recession for almost 10 years, experiencing hyperinflation, a rapid decline in the quality of services, and increasingly frequent power cuts.

The decline of Venezuelan oil: part of the Cuban collapse

Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba continue to decline, dropping from 96,300 barrels per day (bpd) in 2011 to just 22,000 bpd in September 2024, a notable reduction compared to the 33,700 bpd recorded in June of the same year. The decline is partly due to the fragility of PDVSA's infrastructure, exacerbated by blackouts, equipment failures, and lack of investment, along with corruption. Despite PDVSA and its joint ventures managing to export 925,000 bpd in August, the highest figure since 2020, it is still far from the 3,120,000 bpd that were produced in 1998.

Currently, Nicolás Maduro prioritizes markets that guarantee real payments for oil, such as Asia (510,000 bpd) and the United States (212,000 bpd, managed by Chevron), in addition to 97,000 bpd to the Spanish company Repsol. Meanwhile, Cuba is looking for other suppliers like Russia, which sends fuel from Kaliningrad.

In general, Venezuelan exports fell by 9% in September, with 42 ships leaving Venezuelan waters carrying an average of 842,600 bpd of crude oil and fuel, in addition to 267,000 metric tons of petroleum derivatives and petrochemical products. In order to reduce dependence on oil, the country is developing other sectors, such as the export of jellyfish to South Korea.

On the other hand, the South American country is facing a deep political crisis following the electoral fraud of the past elections and the non-recognition of Maduro as the legitimate president by some countries.

On July 28, 2024, the elections in Venezuela were marked by reports of irregularities, according to various reports on social media and local media. Among the incidents reported, there were assaults at polling stations and the takeover by Chavismo supporters at several electoral schools. The opposition and citizens expressed concern over the expulsion of international observers and the repression against opposition supporters, increasing tension in the electoral process.

On July 29, the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Nicolás Maduro the winner, which sparked a wave of protests and rejection from the opposition, which alleged electoral fraud. Opposition leader María Corina Machado stated that the real winner was Edmundo González, showing documents that indicated his lead. In response to the allegations, Maduro threatened to unleash a revolution if his reelection was questioned, blaming the United States for the crisis and reiterating his willingness to defend his mandate by any means necessary.