Emergency measures hobble Cuba as fuel supplies dwindle under U.S. pressure

Cuba faces severe fuel shortages under U.S. pressure, leading to essential service disruptions and public transport cuts.

Havana's streets were eerily quiet on Monday (February 9, 2026) as emergency measures kicked in to conserve Cuba's fast-dwindling fuel stocks under economic pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.

With oil supply in a U.S. stranglehold, the communist government has shuttered universities, reduced school hours and the work week, and slashed public transport as it limited fuel sales.

The few Cubans who were out and about in the capital Monday (February 9, 2026) said they were worried.

"One wonders how long a country can live under such conditions," nurse Rosa Ramos, 37, told AFP, adding the fuel-saving measures were creating "a lot of uncertainty."

With public transport cut back, Ms. Ramos had been waiting for over an hour for a taxi or bus to get to work.

Users of private taxis said fares had shot up overnight from about 200 pesos (40 U.S. cents) to 350 pesos.