In a significant policy shift, the United States Treasury Department has authorized the resumption of Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba’s private sector for both commercial and humanitarian purposes. The decision, announced Wednesday, comes as the Biden administration seeks to address growing regional instability concerns while maintaining pressure on Cuba’s communist government.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) summit in Saint Kitts and Nevis, delivered a stark ultimatum alongside the sanctions relief. The Cuban-American diplomat emphasized that any diversion of oil to government or military entities would trigger immediate reinstatement of restrictions. ‘Cuba needs to change dramatically because it is the only chance that it has to improve the quality of life for its people,’ Rubio stated, characterizing Cuba’s economic system as ‘in collapse.’
The policy adjustment follows January’s US-led operation that deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, which abruptly halted nearly half of Cuba’s oil imports and triggered widespread fuel shortages and rolling blackouts. Caribbean leaders expressed deep concern about potential regional spillover effects, with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness warning that ‘a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba.’
Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew, who studied medicine in Cuba, reported concerning firsthand accounts of food scarcity and deteriorating urban conditions. ‘A destabilized Cuba will destabilize all of us,’ Drew cautioned, highlighting the interconnectedness of Caribbean nations.
Meanwhile, Canada announced $5.8 million in humanitarian assistance for Cuba, diverging from its southern neighbor’s approach while acknowledging the severity of the crisis. The developments occurred alongside a reported maritime incident involving Cuban authorities and a Florida-registered speedboat, which Rubio described as ‘unusual’ and under investigation.
Rubio simultaneously defended the US position on Venezuela, asserting that the nation had made ‘substantial progress’ since Maduro’s removal and emphasizing the need for ‘fair, democratic elections’ without specifying a timeline.