Government of Cuba

Force in Play

Engaging in direct US talks while publicly hardening its position; 2,010 pardons excluded all political prisoners

A senior US delegation flew to Havana in mid-April — the first American government aircraft to land in Cuba since 2016 — and reportedly presented a two-week deadline: release named political prisoners, allow SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet terminals, expand the private sector, and enact market reforms. Cuba acknowledged the meeting as 'respectful and professional' but denied any ultimatum was issued. That reported deadline expires around April 24, with no public signal that Havana intends to comply. Cuba's 2,010 prisoner pardons announced on April 3 excluded all political detainees, drawing condemnation from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Updated Apr 22

Force in Play

Target of U.S. economic pressure campaign

The United States has imposed economic pressure on Cuba for 64 years. Now, for the first time, Washington is threatening to punish any country that sells oil to the island. President Trump's January 29 executive order creates a tariff mechanism targeting third countries that supply Cuban fuel—a significant escalation that goes beyond traditional bilateral sanctions to coerce allies and trading partners into joining an energy blockade. The strategy has proven devastatingly effective: Cuba's national power grid collapsed entirely on March 17, 2026, leaving approximately 10 million people without electricity and triggering ten consecutive days of street protests—the most visible civil unrest in years. Partial restoration occurred on March 18 after 29 hours, but the blackout deepened shortages of food, medicine, and water, and included the vandalization of a Cuban Communist Party provincial office in Morón, signaling fractures in state control. On March 21, Cuba blocked a US Embassy request to import diesel for generators, escalating diplomatic tensions amid ongoing rolling blackouts.

Updated Mar 21