The Spanish deputy Javier Sánchez Serna, regional coordinator of the Podemos party in the Murcia region, stated this Saturday from Havana that the energy crisis affecting Cuba is a result of the restrictions imposed by the United States government and argued that the island only needs to be able to purchase oil without obstacles.
In a video published on the social network X, the politician stated that during his visit he has walked through the streets of the capital and spoken with citizens about the situation the country is facing.
"Cuba is not asking for charity; Cuba is simply asking to be able to buy oil with its own money," stated Sánchez, who is part of the so-called Convoy Nuestra América to Cuba, an international initiative that brings together leftist activists and politicians on the island in support of the Cuban government.
The deputy assured that the country has gone three months without receiving fuel and stated that it can currently meet only about 40% of its energy demand, a situation that, he argued, explains the prolonged blackouts and the economic difficulties.
In his speech, he also criticized the stance of the European Union and Spain, reproaching them for not confronting Washington or facilitating the supply of oil, batteries, or solar panels to Cuba.
"I believe it reflects very poorly on Europe, and Spain in particular, that no one dares to stand up to the fascist in the White House," stated the parliamentarian, who also described the situation on the island as a "silent war" against the Caribbean country.
The statements from the Podemos leader come amid a deep energy crisis in Cuba, marked by prolonged blackouts and a fuel shortage that daily affects the population.
For years, a significant portion of the island's oil supply relied on Venezuela. A report from the Miranda Center for Democracy estimates that Caracas transferred to Havana the equivalent of $63.8 billion in oil subsidies, associated investments, and financial relief under the cooperation agreements signed between the two countries since the beginning of the century.
According to the report, the main component of the scheme was the shipment of subsidized oil from Venezuela, which at times reached over 100,000 barrels per day, allowing for the sustained operation of the Cuban energy system for years.
However, in late January, the newspaper El Nuevo Herald published an investigation revealing that the Havana regime received around 70,000 barrels of crude oil and Venezuelan derivatives daily between late 2024 and late 2025, but it subsequently sent about 40,000 barrels daily, nearly 60%, to Asia for resale.
The decline in Venezuelan oil production and the recent political changes, following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro on January 3, have significantly reduced that flow of fuel.
This left the island without one of its main energy supports and exacerbated the crisis that was already affecting the country's electrical system.
Filed under: