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The administration of President Donald Trump is considering new measures to pressure for a regime change in Cuba, including the possibility of imposing a total blockade on oil imports to the island, according to three people familiar with the internal discussions, as reported by Politico.
The proposal —which is not yet approved— would represent an escalation compared to previous announcements by Trump about stopping the oil that arrives in Cuba from Venezuela and is part of a set of actions that could be presented to the president.
According to sources cited by Politico, the idea has been promoted by critics of the Cuban government within the administration itself and is said to have the support of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to two of the three individuals consulted, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Politician points out that a decision has not been made on whether the blockade will be implemented.
One of the individuals described the energy as “strangulation” to “end” the regime, asserting that, in the view of those advocating for escalation, the overthrow of the communist government would be an “event” that would occur in 2026.
The report indicates that there are discussions within the U.S. government about whether it is necessary to go "that far."
Sources warn that, although the reduction in shipments has already impacted the Cuban economy, a complete blockade of crude oil imports could trigger a humanitarian crisis, a possibility that has led some members of the administration to oppose it.
According to one of the cited sources, the eventual effort would be justified under the LIBERTAD Act of 1994, known as Helms-Burton, which codifies elements of the U.S. embargo on commercial and financial transactions with Cuba.
Politician reported that the Cuban embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment and that the White House also did not answer inquiries about whether all oil imports to Cuba were being considered for a ban.
Cuba imports approximately 60% of its oil supply.
The island relied heavily on Venezuela until the Trump administration began seizing sanctioned shipments from that country, and Mexico has recently become the main supplier after Venezuelan shipments were depleted, although charging for the crude and lacking the expected capacity to fully cover the growing shortage.
For now, what has been disclosed describes internal discussions and a measure under evaluation, not a policy that has already been implemented.
The report itself emphasizes that it is not decided whether the blockade will be approved, and that it is part of options that could be presented to the president.
The measure would contradict the decision of the U.S. administration, which is allowing Mexico to continue supplying fuel to the island, as revealed by CBS News.
The information, signed by journalist Margaret Brennan, highlights a clear gap between Trump's political message and the practical politics of Washington.
According to statements from the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, and another high-ranking U.S. official, the American administration has not blocked Mexican crude shipments to Cuba, even though the leader publicly promised to cut off all sources of economic support to the Castro regime.
The government of Claudia Sheinbaum herself has defended the shipments as "humanitarian aid," while Mexican oil tankers, such as the Ocean Mariner, have continued to arrive at Cuban ports amid the daily darkness experienced by millions of families on the island.
According to CBS News, Washington is aware that a total energy blockade could further sink the already deteriorating Cuban electrical system, a scenario that the United States is not seeking immediately.
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