Cuba experienced its second nationwide power outage in less than a week on Saturday, officials reported. The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced on X that another “total disconnection of the National Electric System has occurred,” and protocols for restoring power are already being implemented.
Earlier, on Monday, Cuban officials reported an island-wide blackout affecting approximately 11 million people. This latest outage marks the fourth major blackout in Cuba over the past four months.
In response to the ongoing crisis, humanitarian organizations began delivering aid to Cuba by air on Friday. Shipments included solar panels, food, and medicine to help alleviate the hardships caused by the blackouts.
Protests have erupted across the island in recent days, as frustration grows over the prolonged power outages and worsening living conditions. CBS Miami reported that these demonstrations reflect the public’s mounting anger over the country’s energy and economic struggles.
The Cuban government has blamed the worsening situation on a U.S. energy blockade. Since January, after President Trump warned of tariffs on any country selling or providing oil to Cuba, the island’s access to foreign energy sources has been severely restricted.
Cuba has traditionally relied heavily on oil shipments and support from allies such as Mexico, Russia, and Venezuela. However, critical oil deliveries from Venezuela were halted after the U.S. took action against the South American nation in early January, including the arrest of its then-president, Nicolás Maduro.
President Trump has repeatedly suggested that Cuba’s government is on the verge of collapse. Following the recent grid failures, he told reporters he believed he would soon have “the honor of taking Cuba,” adding, “Taking Cuba in some form, whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth. They’re a very weakened nation right now.”
As Cuba continues to face deepening energy and economic crises, the coming weeks will be critical in determining the nation’s stability and recovery.
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