Cuba accuses US of lying over oil blockade amid escalating tensions

Cuba has accused US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of lying after he denied that Washington is imposing an oil blockade on the Caribbean nation, amid worsening energy shortages and rising diplomatic tensions.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said Rubio “has simply chosen to lie” and is contradicting both the US President and the White House spokesperson. His comments came shortly after Rubio stated at a White House briefing that “there’s no oil blockade on Cuba, per se.”

Rubio argued that Cuba’s current fuel crisis is not the result of US restrictions but rather the end of Venezuelan oil shipments that previously supported the island’s energy needs. He claimed that Venezuela used to supply Cuba with oil, much of which was allegedly resold for revenue rather than used domestically.

He further said that the current situation reflects decisions made by Venezuela to stop supplying oil, rather than a direct blockade imposed by the United States.

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However, Cuban officials strongly rejected this explanation and blamed Washington for intensifying economic pressure on the island, especially following new sanctions announced by US President Donald Trump on May 1 targeting Cuba’s energy sector.

Rodríguez also accused the US of deliberately worsening the humanitarian situation and causing suffering for the Cuban population through its policies.

The dispute comes at a time when Cuba is facing a severe energy crisis, with widespread fuel shortages, power disruptions, and limited access to imports. Reports indicate that only limited shipments, including a Russian oil delivery, have reached the island in recent months.

Tensions have escalated further as the US continues its “maximum pressure” policy on Cuba, including restrictions on oil supplies and expanded sanctions on government-linked entities. The ongoing dispute highlights deepening political and economic friction between Washington and Havana, with both sides exchanging blame over the worsening crisis.