Cuba in May 2026: the most important developments in economy
Cuba's economy in May 2026 was dominated by a fuel and energy shortage. Reports around May 14 said the country had run out of fuel and diesel, and Cuba said its oil depots had dried up while the United States restricted oil supplies to the island. Blackouts were widely reported, and the government adjusted fuel prices. On May 27, a Russian diesel tanker under sanctions failed to reach Cuba. Cuba was also reported to be expanding solar power with China's help.
The shortage came alongside a widening set of US sanctions. On May 1, President Donald Trump signed an executive order expanding sanctions on the Cuban government and its affiliates. Cuban officials called the measure illegal and collective punishment, and the foreign minister spoke out during May Day marches. On May 7, US sanctions hit a Cuban military-linked firm and a Canadian mining company, and reports described serious consequences for Cuba's mining sector.
Airlines also pulled back from the island. Reports on May 18 said carriers were leaving Cuba under the sanctions, leaving Spanish hotels with stranded guests, and Cubana de Aviacion suspended its Havana-Madrid flights after the operator withdrew from the route.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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